The role of anonymity in suicidal contacts with a crisis intervention centre

Abstract

In follow up studies of telephone crisis centers the clients who choose to remain anonymous cannot be included in any follow up group. It is therefore important to try to determine if there are some ways in which the anonymous group is unrepresentative of the total sample. The results of this study indicate that the anonymous group tends to be more lonely and more likely to withhold information than the nonanonymous group. However, it would seem that follow up studies would not be seriously invalidated by the non availability of the anonymous group. A possible explanation of the role of anonymity in suicidal calls is presented, and the results are further discussed in terms of a counselling approach for anonymous suicidal callers and implications for further research.