Follow-up calls for acutely suicidal callers to the Flemish Suicide Helpline

Pilot Study on Follow-Up of (Acutely) Suicidal Individuals From the Flemish Suicide Helpline, Zelfmoordlijn 1813, to Promote Continuity of Care

This pilot will test whether follow-up phone calls from the Flemish Suicide Helpline help adults who call about suicidal thoughts.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 98 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University Ghent (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Ghent)
• Trial ID: NCT07343258 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot implements a callback program at the Flemish Suicide Helpline (Zelfmoordlijn 1813) to determine acceptance, feasibility, and added value of structured follow-up calls for callers with suicidal ideation. Eligible adult Dutch-speaking callers who are not frequent users and who can be reached on a personal device will be offered callback conversations tailored to predefined profiles. The study will collect data on uptake, feasibility measures, caller-reported usefulness, linkage to further care, and short-term outcomes related to coping and suicidal behavior. Findings will inform whether and how systematic follow-up should be implemented more broadly at the helpline.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) who call the Zelfmoordlijn 1813 in Flanders about suicidal ideation, speak Dutch, are reachable on a personal device, are not frequent callers, and are legally competent are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People under 18, non-Dutch speakers, frequent helpline callers, those unreachable by phone, or those already in active, timely care for suicidality are unlikely to be eligible or to receive benefit from this callback program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, routine follow-up calls could give callers extra support that helps them engage with professional care, strengthen self-care strategies, and reduce suicide risk.

How similar studies have performed: International research, including large studies from the United States and Ireland, has shown that follow-up calls after crisis calls can reduce suicide deaths and help callers engage in care, so this approach has supportive evidence.

Eligibility criteria

1. Callers

   Inclusion criteria:
   * The caller is 18 years or older.
   * The caller speaks Dutch.
   * The caller calls the Zelfmoordlijn 1813 for themselves due to suicidal ideation.
   * The caller must benefit from callback conversations fitting one of the three callback profiles.
   * The caller is not a frequent caller to the Zelfmoordlijn 1813.
   * The caller can be called back directly on a personal device.
   * The caller is legally competent, meaning they can oversee the potential consequences of participation, such as time investment and availability.
   * At the time of recruitment, the caller is not receiving support within a care trajectory where attention is paid to their suicidality. Or the care provider is not available quickly enough (e.g., due to maternity leave) if the caller falls within the callback profile focusing on a safety conversation.

   Exclusion criteria:
   * The caller is younger than 18 years.
   * The caller does not speak Dutch.
   * The caller does not call the Zelfmoordlijn 1813 for themselves.
   * The caller is a frequent caller to the Zelfmoordlijn 1813.
   * The call responder assesses that urgent medical help is necessary.
   * The caller expresses a homocide threat during the original conversation to the Zelfmoordlijn 1813.
   * The caller cannot be called back on a personal device (e.g., persons in detention).
   * The caller is not legally competent to oversee the consequences of participation (e.g., under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs).
   * At the time of recruitment, the caller is receiving support within a care trajectory where attention is paid to their suicidality.
2. Call responders The CPZ chooses to recruit call responders who have extensive experience in answering calls at the Zelfmoordlijn 1813. Therefore, not all call responders of the Zelfmoordlijn 1813 are trained to recruit callers.
3. Callback callers The staff members of the CPZ who are involved in developing and implementing the callback methodology will also participate in the research by means of an interview.

Where this trial is running

Ghent

• Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention, Ghent University — Ghent, Belgium (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Gwendolyn Portzky, PhD — University Ghent
• Study coordinator: Eva De Jaegere, PhD

Conditions Suicide; Suicidal Ideation and Behavior; Crisis Intervention; suicidal ideation; suicide-related coping; suicidal behavior; crisis line