No-Suicide Contracts with Suicidal Youth: Mental Health Professionals' Perceptions and Current Practice

Commonly used in clinical and medical settings, no-suicide contracts (NSCs) solicit commitment from suicidal individuals not to attempt suicide. The prevalence of community and school-based Mental Health Professionals' (MHPs) use of NSCs with suicidal youth (SY) is unknown. Additionally, minimal feedback is available regarding MHPs' current practice and perceptions of implementing NSCs. Likewise, school and agency policy directing intervention with SY is not well described, or clearly understood. Of 326 individuals attending Utah's Annual Youth Suicide Prevention Conference, 243 completed questionnaires (74.5% participation rate) assessing perceptions and current practice related to NSCs. Of these questionnaires, 229 were completed by MHPs who specifically worked with youth under the age of 18 years. These questionnaires were included in data analysis. When intervening with SY, half of participants reported using NSCs. However, only 3.5% of participants (n = 8) reported knowledge of formal "written" school district or community mental health agency policy that offered guidelines for implementing NSCs. Implications for clearly specifying current policy to guide interventions with SY are discussed. (Contains 2 tables.)