Monitoring Suicidal Behaviour in Dutch Youth Mental Healthcare: A Modified Delphi Approach

Abstract

The monitoring of suicide-related indicators in youth mental healthcare is important in improving healthcare related suicide prevention. The aim of this study is to develop item-s to be included in a yet-to-be-implemented suicide-related monitoring system in youth mental healthcare in the Netherlands. A modified Delphi approach was used to achieve consensus among healthcare professionals, peer specialists and parents on suicide-related indicators and their definitions. Participants in the Delphi rounds were able to identify nine suicide-related indicators that are relevant when monitoring the quality of care delivered to people with suicidality in youth mental healthcare. The next step is to implement the monitoring in youth mental healthcare and, ultimately, reduce suicidal behavior.

Keywords:

• Suicide
• youth
• mental health care
• monitoring
• delphi

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the peer specialists, parents, and professionals of the youth mental healthcare organisations in the Netherlands who participated and provided information for this study. In addition, the authors would like to thank the entire project group of “Stay in Touch”, and in particular project manager Anita Jansen, for their valuable contribution to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).