A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Volunteer Mentorship for Young Adults With Self-Harm Behaviors Using a Quasi-Experimental Design

Law, Yik Wa; Yip, Paul S. F.; Lai, Carmen Chui Shan; Kwok, Chi Leung; Wong, Ping Wah; Liu, Kwong-Sun; Ng, Pauline W. L.; Liao, Carmen W. M.; Wong, Tai Wai

doi:10.1027/0227-5910/a000393

Cited by 9 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…The majority employed a pre-test/post-case series study design (k = 11; 57·9%) [73], [74], [75], [76], [77], [78], [79], [80], [81], [82], [83]. Sixteen (84·2%) recruited participants from community mental health services or hospitals, including inpatient and emergency department settings [73], [74], [75], [76], [77], [78], [79], [80], [83], [84], [85], [86], [87], [88], [89], [90], [91]. Interventions included DBT, CBT, and brief contact interventions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Works in Youth Suicide Prevention? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2018

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Summary Background Young people require specific attention when it comes to suicide prevention, however efforts need to be based on robust evidence. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies examining the impact of interventions that were specifically designed to reduce suicide-related behavior in young people. Findings Ninety-nine studies were identified, of which 52 were conducted in clinical settings, 31 in educational or workplace settings, and 15 in community settings. Around half were randomized controlled trials. Large scale interventions delivered in both clinical and educational settings appear to reduce self-harm and suicidal ideation post-intervention, and to a lesser extent at follow-up. In community settings, multi-faceted, place-based approaches seem to have an impact. Study quality was limited. Interpretation Overall whilst the number and range of studies is encouraging, gaps exist. Few studies were conducted in low-middle income countries or with demographic populations known to be at increased risk. Similarly, there was a lack of studies conducted in primary care, universities and workplaces. However, we identified that specific youth suicide-prevention interventions can reduce self-harm and suicidal ideation; these types of intervention need testing in high-quality studies.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Works in Youth Suicide Prevention? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2018

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“…A training manual has also been developed and tested by Dr. Y. W. Law. An evaluation study on the efficacy of the scheme found the intervention group to have realized significant improvements in hopelessness and depressive symptoms (Law et al, 2016), thus demonstrating the potential of the mentorship programs in providing effective follow-ups and community support to the vulnerable individuals, in particular to those discharged from the Accident and Emergency Departments of the public hospitals. Dr. Y. W. Law and the team are in collaboration with the medical professionals to conduct a randomized controlled trial on a three-pronged model that recognizes the central role of social connectedness in addressing discharged patients who have engaged in self-harm behaviors and incorporates technology-based, standardized self-help, personal human connections, and community-based interventions with clinical treatment.…”

Section: Indicated Levelmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Ongoing follow-ups and community support are effective in reducing suicide deaths and attempts among the patients who have recently been discharged (Luxton, June, & Comtois, 2013). In the hope of providing a support service to the youths who have engaged in deliberate self-harm behaviors and have been discharged, the CSRP has initiated a volunteer mentorship scheme (Law et al, 2016) based on the social work empowerment approach. This involves a team of volunteer mentors being provided with on-the-job training in such skills as the provision of clinical consultation and professional advice by the experienced social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists.…”

Section: Indicated Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention: Collective Impact of Engagement with Community Stakeholders

Law

Yeung

et al. 2019

Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work

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Purpose: In response to the rising suicide trend in Hong Kong, the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention ("CSRP") was established in 2002, with the aim to capitalize on the collective impact of research-support practices to prevent suicides. Method: The CSRP has since become an international knowledge hub that applies a public health approach and innovative strategies to address suicide-related problems at multiple levels. Results: The CSRP actively engages in research, teaching, and knowledge exchange with community stakeholders. These effort are associated with Hong Kong's more than 30% reduction in suicide rates between 2003 and 2016. Discussion: The rationale for and examples of the CSRP's practices in face of the suicide prevention challenges lay ahead were also discussed. Conclusion: The outcomes of these practices, which hold great potential for suicide prevention worldwide, have contributed to important academic debates in the field of suicidology.

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“…8,9,[58][59][60][61][62][63] Ten programs were specifically aimed at decreasing the amount of time healthcare providers spent completing non-clinical tasks, such as provision of comfort items and assistance with meals, hydration, mobility and transportation once they were ready for ED discharge. 15,[49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57] The majority (n=52; 59.8%) of described programs had general volunteers in the ED, while 35 (40.2%) had volunteers targeting a specific patient population, including pediatrics, 17,42,[64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76] geriatrics, 25,[38][39][49][50][51][52]77 patients with mental health and addiction issues 18,[22][23][24]35,40,…”

Section: Volunteer Characteristics and Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…12 programs used quantitative methods, including a number of randomized clinical trials, 18,19,24,26,37,40,42,50,52,53,77,79 four programs used qualitative methods 12,13,20,25 and two programs did not specify the type of evaluation used 23,31 . Of those that reported a focus on particular outcomes, patient satisfaction, 12,13,20,31 follow-up and referral rates, 25,40,79 ED and hospital costs and length of stay, 19,42,77 subsequent ED visits, 26,37 medical complications, 50,52 mental health , 18,23,24 and malnutrition 53 in the hospital were all reported to be positively affected by volunteers in the ED. Many of the evaluations of programs took the form of surveys and questionnaires from the perspectives of patients and hospital staff.…”

Section: Outcomes Measured Within Evaluated Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volunteer contributions in the emergency department: A scoping review

Glanz¹,

Ellis²,

McLeod³

et al. 2019

Patient Experience Journal

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The objective of this scoping review was to identify published and unpublished reports that described volunteer programs in the emergency department (ED) and determine how these programs impacted patient experiences or outcomes. Electronic searches of Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and CINAHL were conducted and reference lists were hand-searched. A grey literature search was also conducted. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, reviewed full text articles, and extracted data. The search strategy yielded 4,589 potentially relevant citations; 87 reports were included in the review. Volunteer activities were categorized as non-clinical tasks (e.g., provision of meals/snacks, comfort items and mobility assistance), navigation, emotional support/communication, and administrative duties. 52 (59.8%) programs had general volunteers in the ED and 35 (40.2%) had volunteers targeting a specific patient population, including pediatrics, geriatrics, patients with mental health and addiction issues and other vulnerable populations. 18 (20.6%) programs included an evaluative component describing how ED volunteers affected patient experiences and outcomes. Patient satisfaction, follow-up and referral rates, ED hospital costs and length of stay, subsequent ED visits, medical complications, and malnutrition in the hospital were all reported to be positively affected by volunteers in the ED. These findings demonstrate the important role volunteers play in enhancing patient and caregiver experience in the ED. Future volunteer engagement programs should be formally described and evaluated to share their success and experience with others interested in implementing similar programs in the ED.

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A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Volunteer Mentorship for Young Adults With Self-Harm Behaviors Using a Quasi-Experimental Design

Abstract: 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.

Cited by 9 publications

References 58 publications

What Works in Youth Suicide Prevention? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

What Works in Youth Suicide Prevention? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention: Collective Impact of Engagement with Community Stakeholders

Volunteer contributions in the emergency department: A scoping review

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