Caring Contacts
As part of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s commitment to a Zero Suicide mission, the CSPR created a program that sends a series of 19 caring messages over the course of a year to youth who have been treated for suicidal thoughts or behaviors in several of our acute Behavioral Health services. After a patient leaves care for a suicidal crisis, they remain at elevated risk for re-attempt or re-hospitalization. However, recent research suggests that sending messages to patients who have experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors through caring letters, postcards, or telephone calls may reduce suicide attempts, suicidal behavior, and emergency department utilization. Our Caring Contacts program helps to bridge the gap in care after a patient receives treatment for concerns of suicidality and has been discharged from a behavioral health unit. The Caring Contacts program will intervene via text messages to teens by providing support and encouragement and providing appropriate and accessible crisis resources. The Caring Contacts program continues to expand to other healthcare sites thanks to generous support and funding from Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
If interested in using our images, learning more about Caring Contacts, or adopting it in your organization, please contact SuicidePrevention@NationwideChildrens.org.
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