Postdischarge care provided by volunteers showed significant improvement in hopelessness and depression. Volunteers have been commonly involved in suicide prevention services. Further research using rigorous methods is recommended for improving service quality in the long term.

Abstract. Background: A 45-month community-based suicide prevention program was launched in response to the emergence of a suicide cluster in 2010 in Hong Kong. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, document the implementation and outcomes of the project, and identify factors that contribute to the outcomes. Method: The program was delivered following the five key components of the public health approach: (a) community consensus building; (b) surveillance and monitoring; (c) development of coordinated action strategies; (d) interventions development and implementation at the universal, selective, and indicated levels; and (d) program evaluation. Results: A significant decreasing trend of suicide was found in the study site during the intervention period, whereas no changes were found in the three control sites. Spatial analysis also showed that the suicide cluster subsided after the intervention. Three impacts and one challenge of the program were identified from the qualitative feedback of the program stakeholders. Limitations: More investigations should be made to assess the sustainability of this community-based suicide prevention effort in the long run. Conclusion: A community-based suicide prevention program was successfully implemented to address the suicide cluster. A reduction in the suicide rate was observed after the intervention.

The public health approach of engaging multiple partners in the early phase of a potential epidemic can be a good guide to meeting the challenges posed by any new suicide methods that emerge in the future.

However, it is unclear whether prevention programs with short-term success have sustainable long-term effects. Knox et al., (2010) noted that suicide programs may become less effective over time, and that the suicide rate may in fact rebound, due to the impact of changing circumstances and environment on ongoing implementation of program initiatives.Cheung Chau has a population of about 21,000 (Census & Statistical Department [C&SD], 2017a), and is situated about 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island. A 30-min ferry ride connects the two places, and Cheung Chau is a popular vacation site well-known for holiday flats rented to Hong Kong residents. In 2002, a suicide prevention program using an integrative and multilevel approach was implemented in