Third‐party callers to the national suicide prevention lifeline: Seeking assistance on behalf of people at imminent risk of suicide

OBJECTIVE: To assist suicidal individuals, people in their social network are often directed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline). The study's objective was to provide information on third‐party calls made out of concern for another person. METHOD: Reports on 172 third‐party calls concerning individuals deemed to be at imminent suicide risk were completed by 30 crisis counselors at six Lifeline crisis centers. RESULTS: Third‐party callers were most likely to be calling about a family member or friend and were significantly more likely than persons at risk to be female and middle‐aged or older. Counselors were able to collect information about suicide risk, and counselors and third‐parties were nearly always able to identify at least one intervention to aid the person at risk. Emergency services were contacted on 58.1 percent of the calls, which represents a somewhat higher rate of emergency services involvement than previously reported on imminent risk calls placed by the person at risk. Characteristics of third‐parties and persons‐at‐risk each predicted emergency service involvement, but counselor characteristics did not. Non‐emergency interventions were implemented on 68.6 percent of calls. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals calling the Lifeline when they are worried about someone are provided a range of interventions which can supplement, and at times replace, calling 911.