A Feasibility Study of a Suicide Prevention Video

A Pilot Study of the Effectiveness of a Suicide Prevention Video Tool to Reduce the Incidence of Active Suicide Behavior in Individuals With Psychiatric Illness

This initial study is a pilot feasibility study with a primary objective of assessing the feasibility of a larger study by evaluating the procedures and methodology, as well as collecting pilot data. The eventual research goal is to demonstrate whether a suicide prevention video in addition to standard care for suicidality is an effective strategy to reduce suicidal behaviours in individuals with a history of such. The suicide prevention video is developed as an educational tool to inform participants of the various consequences of suicide as well as giving a message of hope. It is hoped that such an approach will help to reduce future suicidal behaviours in those who have a history of such. If so, then this could be made as a part of the standard of care in treating patients with suicidality.

This pilot study will assess the study procedures and methodology to determine the feasibility of a larger study that will be done to asses for any difference in suicidal behaviours when the suicide prevention video is used in addition to standard of care. As such, the primary objectives will include:

• Testing of recruitment, retention, consent, and assignment procedures
• Validating the inclusion/exclusion criteria
• Determining the acceptability and safety of the proposed intervention
• Evaluating implementation procedures and methodology for the intervention
• Evaluating the appropriateness of timing and frequency of data collection points
• Evaluating the appropriateness and feasibility of the assessment tools
• Obtaining parameters for sample size estimation for the larger study
• Assessing the effectiveness of the video medium, content in the video and length of the video

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 19 years or older
• Admitted to the Royal Columbian Hospital under psychiatric services
• Individuals will have had suicidal behaviours as part of their presentation leading to hospitalization
• Individuals must be at the level 2 observation privileges or higher
• Individuals must be capable of giving consent to participate in the study
• Individuals must speak and read English fluently Individuals admitted to the hospital as voluntary and involuntary (certified) patients

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with hearing or visual deficits that impairs hearing or viewing the SPV
• Individuals who are under the influence of drugs, such as intoxication or active withdrawal
• Individuals with established diagnoses of cognitive impairment affecting their ability to give consent, understand what is expected of them in the study or follow directions
• Patients that require a substitute decision makers to provide consent
• Individuals whose behaviors an/or cognition are actively affected by ongoing psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized behaviors
• Individuals whose treating team assess them as likely to have a negative response to the SPV, for example paranoia around electronic devices
• Patient's who's attending physiatrist is one of the study team members
• Patients who are currently under the direct care of any of the investigators Patients that had acute suicidality in the last 24 hours