Detecting and Intervening on Suicidality in Emergency Departments: The ED-SAFE Study [English and Spanish versions]

Abstract

In 2016, there were 44,695 deaths by suicide in the United States. Suicide accounts for 1.6% of all deaths and is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide attempts are much more common, with more than 1 million people per year attempting suicide. In response to this critical need in 2009, the National Institute for Mental Health funded ED Safety Assessment and Follow-up Evaluation (ED-SAFE). ED-SAFE was a large, three-phase suicide intervention trial designed to determine if an ED-initiated intervention could reduce subsequent suicidal behavior. Read more about the how the ED-SAFE study developed and tested a feasible approach to universal emergency department-based screening for suicide risk, as well as effective interventions that can be initiated at the emergency department visit. A Spanish translation of this publication is available for download.