Re-development of mental health first aid guidelines for suicidal ideation and behaviour: A delphi study

Abstract

Background: Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death globally. Friends and family are considered bestpositioned to provide initial assistance if someone is suicidal. Expert consensus guidelines on how to do this werepublished in 2008. Re-developing these guidelines is necessary to ensure they contain the most current recommendedhelping actions and remain consistent with the suicide prevention literature.Methods: The Delphi consensus method was used to determine the importance of including helping statements inthe guidelines. These statements describe helping actions a member of the public can take, and information theyshould have, to help someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts..