Authors (including presenting author) :
Tang YML(1), ChanYLD(1), Chan SMF(1), Ng PKP(1), So SH(1), Li MCC(1), Chan KYJ(1), Chung KCS(1), Pang YSH(1), Lee HCB(1), Ng HCC(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Introduction :
In recent years, psychiatric hospitals have witnessed an increase in admissions of children and adolescents. The admission rate for this target group in the Hospital Authority (HA) rose by over 50%, from 18900 in the 2011-12 period to 28,800 in 2015-16 (Mental Health Review Report, Food and Health Bureau, 2017, p.53). A review of the clinical profile of this patient group during hospitalization in psychiatric wards at Kowloon Hospital (KH) in 2022 also indicated an upward trend in psychiatric admissions among children and adolescents (aged 10-19) from 2017 to 2022. Suicidal risk was the primary reason for admission, accounting for 52% of admissions. Previous studies have shown that a history of suicide attempts or non-suicidal self-injury is a strong predictor of future suicide attempts (Asarnow et al., 2012; Goldston et al., 1999). Occupational therapy (OT) is vital for suicide prevention, helping individuals develop coping strategies, engage in meaningful activities, and
Objectives :
This project aims: 1. Standardize Clinical Practices for SPI application in managing suicidal risk among C&A. 2. Evaluate the efficacy of SPI Implementation 3. Collect Coping Strategies from C&A's Safety Plans to optimize occupational therapy (OT) treatment approaches.
Methodology :
Initial phase (1, April 2024 completed) 1. To prepare the Chinese version of Safety Plan 2. To make a Chinese version demonstration video for the whole procedure in conducting SPI in aligning the practice of SPI 3. To deliver a session of introduction of Safety Planning Intervention Middle Phase(July 2024 completed) 1.A survey for pre-test on the application of SPI was distributed to the involved therapists 2.Therapists in in-patient setting are invited to apply the SPI for child and adolescents cases with suicidal ideation. 3.Every therapist takes five cases and applying the SPI. Inclusion criteria were(1)Child and adolescent aged from 10 years to 19 years in both female and male Gazette wards;(2) Admitted for suicidal risk or self-harm for a suicide-related concern and opened to all types of diagnosis excluded MR patients;(3) Mentally stable and able to read and understand Chinese. Final Phase(October 2024 completed) Involved therapists were obligated to complete the post-test
Result & Outcome :
A 100% response rate of questionnaires was achieved from all 11 OTs. 5 were junior therapists (with less than three years of experience), the others 6 are more experienced OTs > 8 years of experience. The overall mean score of competence (n=11) increased from 1.27 to 3.45 (+171%). The increase of mean score for senior therapist is from 1.50 to 3.33 (+122%), while junior OT from 1.00 to 3.60 (+260%). The Safety Plan indicated that this age group commonly used social media and online games for coping.
