Emergency Department Means Restriction Education

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

This intervention was designed to take place in busy emergency departments. The program includes the following components that are to be delivered by a healthcare professional: 1) informing the parent/caregiver that their child is at increased suicide risk and explaining why; 2) providing the parent/caregiver with information about steps that they can immediately take to reduce the youth's suicide risk; and 3) educating and problem-solving with parents about how to limit access to lethal means such as firearms, medications, and other items that may be used in another suicide attempt.

Goal / Mission

The goal of Emergency Department Means Restriction Education is to help parents and adult caregivers of at-risk youth recognize the importance of taking immediate action to restrict access to firearms, alcohol, and prescription and over-the-counter drugs in the home in order to lessen the risk of self harm.

Impact

The Means Restriction program shows that ED-based programs and provided practical information can help parents and adult caregivers of at-risk youth recognize the importance of taking immediate, new action to restrict access to dangers in the home.

Results / Accomplishments

One study followed up with parents two months after they had received Means Restriction information. For prescription medications, significantly more parents/caregivers who received the intervention used either locking or disposal as methods to limit access when compared to control parents/caregivers (75% vs. 48%; p < 0.05).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Medical University of South Carolina
Primary Contact
Dr. Markus Kruesi
Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Medical University of South Carolina
67 President Street
MSC 861
Room PH237
Charleston, SC 29425
(843) 792-0135
kruesi@musc.edu
http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/facultydirecto...
Topics
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders
Community / Crime & Crime Prevention
Organization(s)
Medical University of South Carolina
Date of publication
2010
Date of implementation
1994
For more details
Additional Audience
parents of at-risk youth