Two women speaking outside of a healthcare facility Support Safe Care Transitions and Create Organizational Linkages

Effective transitions in care can help reduce suicide risk among individuals receiving health or behavioral health services. One example would be a person with suicide risk who connects with outpatient mental health services following an emergency department visit. Unfortunately, far too often these individuals fail to connect with needed services, particularly following a suicidal crisis.  

Planning for care transitions, and making them as easy as possible for patients and providers, is an important part of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.  

Take Action

  • Make a follow-up appointment for the patient before discharge from the hospital or inpatient psychiatric facility (ideally, for within 48 hours of discharge).
  • Involve family, friends, and other loved ones in the plans for care transition.
  • Make follow-up contacts (e.g., by e-mail, text, phone calls) with the patient and check with providers to make sure that the person is receiving follow-up care.
  • Develop agreements among hospitals, behavioral health providers, crisis centers, and others to facilitate safe transitions between settings.
  • Transmit patient health information to referral providers. 

See the Partnerships and Collaboration section of our website to learn more about working with other provider organizations.