Suicide Prevention: Evidence-Based Treatments That Work

If you or someone you know is in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call 911.

Feelings of despair and thoughts of suicide can be overwhelming when they occur. When people experience intense emotions and do not see a way of dealing with them, they may see suicide as the only means to alleviate their suffering. But there is hope. Through evidence-based treatments, individuals can turn away from these detrimental paths and move towards a more hopeful future.

Proven Treatments for Suicide Prevention

Several treatments have been scientifically proven to reduce the incidence of suicide attempts. Three of the most effective therapies include:

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBTSP)
• Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT)¹

Common Suicide Prevention Therapy Goals and Activities

These therapies share common approaches in targeting suicidal thoughts and behaviors:

1. Creating a Safety Plan

The initial step in these treatments involves developing a personalized safety plan or crisis response plan. This involves identifying strategies and steps individuals can take to manage their thoughts and feelings during a crisis. Such plans are unique to each person and aim to provide immediate tools to cope with distress.²

2. Managing Intense Emotions

Individuals often face powerful negative emotions that they need help to manage, leading to the emergence or intensification of suicidal thoughts. These therapies focus on teaching individuals various techniques to handle these emotions, such as relaxation, mindfulness, distraction, acceptance, and distress tolerance. Learning these skills when not in distress ensures their effectiveness during overwhelming times.³

3. Changing Behavior

People might adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking, drug use, isolation, or neglecting self-care to cope with powerful and complex emotions. These behaviors only exacerbate feelings of despair. Suicide prevention therapies help individuals develop new, healthier skills to manage their emotions and improve their overall well-being.

4. Changing Thought Patterns

Hopelessness can take hold when individuals believe that their circumstances will never improve. Simple triggers can escalate into spirals of negative thinking. Evidence-based treatments like DBT, CBTSP, and BCBT focus on recognizing, practicing, and altering these detrimental thought patterns.

5. Staying Well

As individuals begin to feel more hopeful and develop new skills, they learn how to respond quickly and effectively if suicidal thoughts reappear. These practices help instill long-term well-being and resilience against future crises.

Final Thoughts

Thinking about suicide can be terrifying, but there is hope. Treatments like DBT, CBTSP, and BCBT provide effective strategies to directly address suicidal thoughts and behaviors. By focusing on safety, emotional management, behavioral changes, and thought transformation, these therapies offer a pathway to recovery and renewed hope.²

Sources:

1. Therapies. (n.d.). American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. https://afsp.org/therapies/
2. National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Suicide prevention. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention
3. Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (2020). A Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention | Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Sprc.org. https://sprc.org/effective-prevention/comprehensive-approach