In This Issue

Abstract

I am very pleased to present a special section on research investigating the effectiveness and utility of suicide prevention crisis telephone counseling. There has not been sufficient research looking at the role of crisis counseling in preventing suicides. On the positive side, some recent research has looked at teenagers' attitudes about seeking help from telephone crisis services, while other studies have shown the effectiveness of telephone counseling for youth and the elderly. In addition, researchers have looked at telephone contact after suicide attempts and re-attempts, as well as the research efficacy, utility, and validity of silent monitoring of crisis calls. In summary, I hope that this special section will be widely read and discussed, and that its research findings and recommendations will become the foundation for a renewed investment and appreciation of the role of telephone crisis hotlines in the prevention of suicide and suicidal behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)