ABSTRACT
Conventional mental health approaches aim to reduce suicide risk by the effective treatment of the person’s psychiatric disorder. Psychotherapy consisted of eight to ten individual sessions focused upon suicide prevention but was otherwise not standardised; different approaches were used, including cognitive behavioural therapy, problem-solving therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy or psychodynamic psychotherapy. The CT-SP treatment protocol was first described by Berk et al and subsequently presented as a full-length treatment manual by Wenzel et al. It was originally developed for people who recently attempted suicide but can be used with anyone who has experienced a recent suicidal crisis; either a suicide attempt or acute suicidal ideation. In summary, over the last 20 years a number of studies have demonstrated that a range of brief interventions can reduce suicidal ideation and behaviour. Even a very brief psychological intervention may be effective in reducing subsequent deaths by suicide.
