A volunteer-run, face-to-face, early intervention service for reducing suicidality: a service evaluation of the listening place

Smart, Sophie E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6709-5425, Dimes, Hollie, Lumley, Cordelia, Spooner, Steve, Anderson, Sarah, Platt, Stephen and Davidson, Sarah 2023. A volunteer-run, face-to-face, early intervention service for reducing suicidality: a service evaluation of the listening place. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention 44 (4) , pp. 349-360. 10.1027/0227-5910/a000879

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Abstract

Background: Befriending is one of many strategies with the potential to reduce suicidal ideation and decrease the risk of suicide. Aims: To measure change in suicidal ideation and behavior among visitors (service users) supported at The Listening Place (TLP), a charity which offers volunteer-run, face-to-face befriending to people who are suicidal. Method: This study was peer reviewed and preregistered on the Open Science Framework prior to data extraction. Anonymized data were extracted for visitors at the point of referral and after 3 months of receiving support. Paired-sample tests were used to test whether self-reported suicidal ideation and behaviors changed after 3 months of support from TLP. Multivariable regressions were used to test whether change in suicidal feelings was associated with demographic characteristics or baseline self-reported suicidality. Results: TLP received 13,938 referrals from July 2016 to February 2022. Self-reported suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, and feelings of distress decreased after 3 months, while feelings of support increased. Only self-reported suicidal behavior prior to referral was associated with a lesser reduction in self-reported suicidality after 3 months. Limitations: In the absence of a control group, it cannot be concluded that TLP causes the reduction in self-reported suicidality. Conclusions: An empathetic, nonjudgmental, listening service for people who are feeling suicidal was well received by users, who experienced a reduction in suicidality.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG)
Publisher:	Hogrefe
ISSN:	0227-5910
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	17 August 2022
Date of Acceptance:	17 July 2022
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2023 04:07
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/152002

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