The Strategy and Technology of Suicide Crisis Response
NOTE: This podcast aired on 9/11/18 at 10AM ET http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hopeilluminated
Early in his career Dr. John Draper had a lightbulb moment when he was on suicide watch for patients while they were being "treated" with isolation and restraints; he thought "we can do better." Today, John is one of the global leaders transforming crisis care for people on their worst day. He has helped spark an evolution through his leadership of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by using data, standards of excellence and the input of people with lived experience to continually improve care.
One area of focus for John is virtual support. We have a significant gap between mental health treatment and support resources and the need for these services, and technology can help us meet those needs. Virtual support can offer a spectrum of benefits and is desirable due to its efficiency, cost-effectiveness and anonymity. In this podcast John talks about the many new evidence-based technology resources that help us reach people in the way they want when they want it.
For the Lifeline, the future holds great promise for new directions in tele-crisis response as recent legislation for the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act recently passed. This legislation supports a national feasibility study on the benefits of moving to a three-digit mental health crisis support number (like 911, but for emotional crises) to "supercharge" access.
John closes with a very clear call to action on how best to support people in a suicide crisis -- the "3 Cs": Connection, Collaboration and Choice. Tune in to hear more!
About Dr. John Draper
Dr. Draper has over 25 years of experience in crisis intervention and suicide prevention work, and is considered one of the nation’s leading experts in crisis contact center practices (hotline, online chat, text services, etc.). Since 2004, Dr. Draper has been the Director of the SAMHSA-funded National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK), overseeing all aspects of this service. As Exectuive Vice President of National Networks at Vibrant Emotional Health in New York City, Dr. Draper and his team also administer the National Disaster Distress Helpline, the National Football League (NFL) Life Line, and partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in their operations of the national Veterans Crisis Line. In addition, Dr. Draper and his team were contracted to develop and launch the Crisis Text Line in 2012. Dr. Draper worked as a psychologist on a Brooklyn-based mobile crisis team in an earlier phase of his career, developed and launched New York City’s first 24/7 crisis hotline in 1996, and has maintained a private psychotherapy practice in New York City since 2000.
Show Notes
Technology and Crisis Response
Teens and Screens -- should parents be concerned?
Washington Post article: Teens who spend less time in front of screens are happier — up to a point, new research shows
Jean Twenge's Book: iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy — and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood
Evaluation of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act
Grammy's Night
Graphic to Share
Please, feel free to share this graphic. All we ask is that you link back to this episode of the Hope Illuminated Podcast, so people who see the graphic can have a better appreciation for the crisis resources that can offer them hope.
