Brief interventions have proven to be highly effective in reducing suicide risk and supporting individuals
through high-risk periods. During a crisis, a person’s thinking often becomes rigid, and they may lose
access to their usual coping strategies. This is not the ideal time for problem-solving or finding long-term
solutions to their pain. The primary aim of these brief interventions is to prevent suicide by providing
immediate alternatives to suicidal behaviors. These interventions offer self-selected, therapist-supported
strategies that individuals can prepare and document in advance, helping them navigate through the
crisis with options other than self-harm. A trusted person, such as a family member or friend, can be
involved in the safety planning process if necessary. These brief interventions offer a range of strategies
to be used at different stages of a suicidal crisis, offering solid support to help individuals endure their
emotional pain.
The Crisis Response Plan (CRP) is a collaborative process between an individual and a mental health professional. The Crisis Plan is unique to the person, allowing them to identify specific thoughts, feelings, and experiences that signal a decline in their mental health. By recognizing these warning signs, individuals can take proactive steps to prevent a crisis. The plan also includes personalized actions that have helped the individual in times of distress. Crisis Plans can be written down, and the process is most effective when completed with a professional who understands the goals and components of a plan. The goal is to create a feasible, accessible plan that provides options when the person feels hopeless. By trusting their own knowledge and experiences, individuals can use these plans to reduce suicidal behaviors. Research shows that Crisis Plan can successfully avert suicide when used during moments of crisis.
The Crisis Response Plan involves:
In addition to brief interventions focused on managing suicidal ideation and behavior, there are therapeutic treatments aimed at promoting broader life, psychological, and behavioral changes. These treatments incorporate managing suicidal thoughts and reducing harmful behavior as part of a larger framework. They address challenges such as anxious or negative thinking patterns, emotional regulation, substance use, and difficulties with social, occupational, and health-related experiences.
One such approach is a Depression Self-Report Test (DSPT), developed by Dr.Beck. DSPT is a therapeutic model that helps individuals identify and address the underlying issues, known as suicidal drivers, that lead them to consider suicide. Through the use of the Suicide Status Form, the individual collaborates with a compassionate and supportive mental health professional in open, honest conversations about
suicidal thoughts and impulses. The goal is to develop a plan that manages these suicidal drivers and prevents suicidal behavior. The BDI is a 21-item self-report questionnaire that covers various symptoms and attitudes related to depression, such as mood, pessimism, sense of failure, self-dissatisfaction, guilt, punishment feelings, suicidal ideas, crying, irritability, social withdrawal, body image change, work difficulty, insomnia, fatigue, appetite, weight loss, bodily preoccupation, and loss of libido. The therapists sit side by side to formulate and continually update a plan for staying alive and working toward building a life filled with hope and purpose. The Suicide Status Form is reviewed, discussed, and adjusted at each session.
The overall aim of DSPT is to help the individual move toward a hopeful future and develop meaningful
plans for their life.
DSPT intervention includes