A systematic review of existing brief interventions for youth following suicide attempt: informing the development of an autism-adapted intervention

Background – Autistic youth are at elevated suicide risk, yet they face multiple barriers to mental health care, including a lack of interventions adapted to their unique needs and lived experiences. In the general population, brief interventions have been shown to reduce suicide risk during the high-risk period immediately following discharge from acute care for a suicide attempt. However, no suicide prevention intervention has been designed specifically for Autistic youth during this critical post-discharge period. The overarching aim of the current systematic review was to lay the groundwork for the development of a brief suicide intervention for Autistic youth following discharge from acute care. This review aimed to: (1) identify existing brief post-discharge interventions for general population youth (15–24 years) who have made a suicide attempt; (2) describe core strategies used; and (3) summarize evidence of intervention effectiveness. Methods – Following PRISMA reporting guidelines, five bibliographic databases were searched. Articles were included based on a rigorous selection process, and their quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results – Twenty-four studies were included in the review, representing sixteen interventions. No studies reported including Autistic individuals, and Autistic people were explicitly excluded from two studies. Articles presented mixed findings, with eight studies indicating that the brief intervention was associated with a reduction in suicide outcomes. Common strategies included follow-up contact, safety planning, and teaching coping skills. Discussion – Several brief suicide interventions and strategies show promise for non-Autistic youth post-discharge, their relevance for Autistic youth remains unclear, underscoring the need for autism-adapted approaches informed by Autistic youth.