David D. Luxton, PhD
Psychologist, Technologist, Consultant, Author
Caring Letters (a.k.a. "Caring Contacts")
Photo by Jenn June
The caring letters concept is a suicide prevention intervention that specifically addresses suicide risk during the post-hospitalization period. The intervention involves the routine sending of brief messages of caring concern to patients who are discharged from inpatient psychiatric treatment.
Modalities of caring letters include:
- Postal mail
- postcards
- texting
- a combination of modalities
Benefits:
- One of the only psychological interventions that has been shown to reduce suicide mortalities in a randomized clinical trial
- Simple and inexpensive intervention to reduce suicide
- Reaches high-risk patients that do not continue in care Long-term suicide risk reduction
- Can use existing staff and resources to implement
Associated publications:
Luxton, D. D., Thomas, E. K., Chipps, J., Relova, R. M., Brown, D., McLay, R., Lee, T., Nakama H., & Smolenski, D. J., (2014). Caring Letters for Suicide Prevention: Implementation of a Multi-Site Randomized Clinical Trial in the U.S. Military and Veteran Affairs Healthcare Systems. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 37(2), 252-260. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2014.01.007
Luxton, D. D., June, J. D. & Comtois, K. A. (2013). Can Post-Discharge Follow-up Contacts Prevent Suicide and Suicide Behavior?: A Review of the Evidence. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 34, 32-41. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000158
Luxton D. D., Trofimovich, L., & Clark, L. L. (2013). Suicide Risk among U.S. Service Members Following Psychiatric Hospitalization, 2001-2011. Psychiatric Services. 64, 626-629. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201200413