Brief psychological intervention for the prevention of deliberate self-poisoning: A randomized controlled trial from Sri Lanka

Previous work suggests that many nurses in Sri Lanka, particularly those who work in primary care, involved in the medical treatment of persons who attempt self-poisoning already approach their role holistically and consider ‘providing mental health support as a part of nursing. However, at present, nurses are not given formal training on the delivery of such support, nor has the efficacy or feasibility of such an intervention been assessed in Sri Lanka. A mixed-method design was employed: a pilot randomized controlled trial with embedded qualitative methods. Participants (n = 300) were admitted to Teaching Hospital Peradeniya after non-fatal self-poisoning incidents. The brief psychological intervention consisted of a counselling session that encouraged participants to explore alternative strategies for managing emotional distress and future stressors. Ward nurses received training to deliver the intervention to assigned patients. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected at baseline and follow-up. At the six-month follow-up, the trail demonstrated the intervention’s effectiveness in significantly reducing anxiety and promoting positive coping strategies, although no significant differences were observed in depression rates or alcohol use disorder. Qualitative interviews indicated that participants, found the counselling valuable for emotional support and guidance in managing future interpersonal conflicts and stressors. Overall, this study suggests that brief psychological interventions can support the mental health of those at risk of self-poisoning and encouraging alternative coping strategies. When offering mental health support to individuals who have attempted self-poisoning, it is more feasible to assign dedicated, trained nurses than to expect all nurses to contribute.