Pilot Study on Follow-Up of (Acutely) Suicidal Individuals From the Flemish Suicide Helpline

International research confirms the importance of suicide prevention helplines. They offer immediate crisis support and try to guide people toward appropriate assistance. In practice, however, many callers do not follow up on referrals. Barriers such as costs, waiting times, or insufficient motivation play a role in this. Although call responders mainly offer emotional support, one conversation is often not enough to go into depth on concrete strategies or referrals. Nevertheless, in addition to offering a listening ear, helplines can play a crucial role in motivating and activating callers to seek further help.

The effectiveness of an initial crisis intervention is strongly related to the extent to which it is embedded in a broader care process. That is why there is growing international attention for systematic follow-up after an initial call to a helpline. International studies convincingly show that follow-up conversations after a crisis call have positive effects. Follow-up calls offer extra support, help people take the step towards (professional) help, and reinforce self-care strategies. In the United States, such calls were funded and organized by the health service SAMHSA. In Ireland, research showed that people who were called back after an initial call were significantly less likely to die by suicide than people who did not receive follow-up. In a large-scale American study, nearly 80% of suicidal callers said that the follow-up calls had helped them prevent suicide. More than 90% felt safer afterwards. People at acute risk of suicide in particular reported benefiting from the calls, which they found motivating and protective. Multiple and longer follow-up calls were associated with a stronger sense of safety and a lower estimated risk of suicide. Elements such as safety planning and strengthening social support proved to be decisive in this regard.

In this context, the Flemish Expertise Center for Suicide Prevention (VLESP, Ghent University), in collaboration with the Center for Suicide Prevention (CPZ), is investigating whether and how telephone follow-up calls are feasible for adult callers to the Zelfmoordlijn 1813 who are at (acute) risk of suicide. This is an exploratory pilot study that examines whether this form of follow-up is practically feasible and what added value it can offer as a supplement to the existing services. In this pilot study, CPZ staff members, known as callback callers, conduct callback conversations with a limited group of callers who have previously contacted the Zelfmoordlijn 1813 and given their consent to be called back for research purposes. The callback method provides for a maximum of three callback conversations per person, each of which responds to the individual needs of the caller. The callback method distinguishes between three callback profiles: safety conversation, safety planning, and continuity of care.

During this pilot study, callers are recruited with the help of a limited group of experienced volunteers from the Zelfmoordlijn 1813. These volunteers remain anonymous to the outside world and play a central role in the recruitment process. During the telephone conversation, they assess whether the caller meets the selection criteria for participation in the callback study. If the caller is 18 years of age or older, is calling from a personal telephone, and could benefit from a callback, the caller is invited to participate in the study.

Qualitative interviews with both callers and callback callers and focus groups with call responders are used to assess how the callback method is perceived. Aspects such as acceptance, feasibility, and perceived added value are examined. The interviews with callers and callback callers each last approximately one hour. Conversations with callers take place by telephone, while interviews with callback callers are conducted at the CPZ office. The focus groups with call responders last approximately two hours. Responders can choose to participate in an online session or a physical meeting at the CPZ office. A total of between 53 and 98 persons will participate in the study, namely: 3 callback callers from the CPZ, 20 call responders from the Zelfmoordlijn 1813, and between 30 and 75 participating callers.

The findings from this pilot study will serve as a basis for further refining the callback methodology at Zelfmoordlijn 1813 and, if regarded as positive, preparing for broader implementation.