Support safe care transitions and organizational linkages
You
can reduce patients’ suicide risk by ensuring that they have an
uninterrupted transition of care and by facilitating the exchange of
information among the various individuals and organizations that
contribute to their care.
Individuals at risk for suicide and their support networks (e.g., families) must also be part of the communication process.
Tools
and practices that support continuity of care include formal referral
protocols, interagency agreements, cross-training, follow-up contacts,
rapid referrals, and patient and family education.
Provider actions
Be
familiar with local crisis response options where the patient is
located. This could include a local Community Mental Health crisis team;
hospital-based crisis response, walk-in crisis services, and the
nearest emergency department.
If your client is hospitalized,
outreach to the social worker on the unit to set up an appointment upon
discharge. Understand that people’s suicide death rate is 300 times
higher than the general population in the first week after they are
discharged
from an inpatient psychiatric unit.
People are at the
highest risk just after discharge, so get your client in as soon as you
can after discharge and consider providing outreach calls if you don’t
get them in right away.
Actions in practice
Obtain
release of information to coordinate care with your client’s primary
care provider and psychiatrist and work as a virtual care team. Reach
out to the care team for coordination when your client is transitioning
care from outpatient to
inpatient.
Understand the local processes for involuntary commitment; what paperwork is needed, where is it sent, etc.
Try
to talk to your client when they are in the inpatient setting to
reassure them that you are there for them upon discharge. Try for a warm
handoff from the inpatient unit.