In 2021, suicide was responsible for 48,183 deaths in the US, which is about one death every 11 minutes. This compares to 39,508 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the US in 2021. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. According to SAMSHA, in 2021 an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicides. Additionally, individuals receiving treatment for problems with alcohol use are at a higher risk for suicide attempts.
For our study, our team is talking with individuals in alcohol treatment to discuss their thoughts about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides free, 24/7 help at times when they need support – like when they are feeling hopeless, isolated, or life isn’t worth living. The purpose of the study is to learn about people who use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline during a time of crisis and those who don’t. We want to know if people who have experienced a suicidal crisis could benefit from participating in a therapy session about their thoughts and perceptions of the 988 Lifeline.
To be a part of our study, you must be at least 21 years old. To see if you are a good fit for our study, we’d like to ask you to fill out a screening survey that will take about 15 minutes to complete. You’ll receive a $10 gift card for completing the survey. If you qualify and decide to join the study, you’ll first complete a baseline assessment and then be randomly assigned (like tossing a coin) to one of our two different one-on-one sessions about the 988 Lifeline with a study therapist. Then we’ll contact you again in about 4, 8 and 12 months to ask you to complete follow-up assessments. You could receive up to an additional $235 for taking part in the full study.
