Brief Contact Intervention (BCI) project

… dissemination, to reducing the number of suicides and suicide attempts regionally and nationally. NASP also contributes to developing and stimulating the knowledge area of suicide and suicide prevention, where evaluation of various interventions is an important part. NASP is looking for a Supplier, with experience in communicating with suicidal individuals, to perform a Brief Contact Intervention (BCI) - a proven model that has been shown in international studies to reduce suicidal behaviors in suicidal individuals. BCI here refers to supporting phone calls to a person who has suicidal thoughts. Brief Contact Interventions (BCIs) are regular and systematic follow-ups of people at increased risk of suicide by phone, letter, text message or similar. BCI interventions are primarily used as a means to convey compassionate support and care, as well as to encourage seeking help when needed or treatment adherence if ongoing. BCI intervention is therefore not a therapeutic treatment and an advantage is that the intervention does not need to be carried out by medical personnel. Another advantage is that regular contacts with the people are short, which enables follow-ups of a broad population. This makes BCIs a cost-effective effort that can be offered to many people and risk groups. Several scientific studies evaluating BCI interventions have found positive effects in the form of fewer suicide attempts and suicides (for systematic reviews see: Zalsman et al., 2016; Mann et al 2022). The procured supplier shall develop a system that can accommodate participants with an increased risk of suicide. The system should enable processes to regularly follow up on these people through structured telephone contacts in accordance with our guidelines that aim to provide compassionate support. At each contact, the caller should be able to take notes to be used as a basis for the next call. All parts of the system must be developed with the security features required to handle sensitive personal data according to the General Data Protection Regulation. For this purpose, see the attached PUB agreement, which can be signed in order for KI to enter into an agreement with a supplier regarding this project. The service will be aimed at individuals over the age of 18. The procured supplier should be able to deliver the service to as many people as possible until the year 2029, where each person is followed up about eight (8) times a year and each contact takes about 20 minutes. In case of non-contact, the procured supplier must follow the study protocol's routines for repeated contact attempts in case of missed contact. The supplier must also be able to offer people the opportunity to specify when on the day they wish to be contacted. Callers are not required to have formal clinical training but they should have relevant training or experience in providing social support (see requirements below). In connection with the project, NASP will provide training for approximately one full day.