Developing and validating a training package for the provision of telephone crisis intervention services to children and adolescents at risk of suicide

Background: Telephone crisis intervention is a readily available and discreet method through which troubled youths can seek assistance.Objective: We aimed to design an intervention training package to be used by telephone counselling system experts working with children and adolescents at risk of suicide and its preliminary evaluation. Method: Currently available guidelines and related articles were reviewed performing an extensive search across the databases of PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus from January 2003 to August 2024, and examined the reference lists of included articles to identify additional studies. After developing the initial content of the manual, we evaluated and recorded the face validity and content validity of the training package as informed by a group of specialists and experts.Results: The training package showed good content and face validity. Following feedback, the content of the initial training package was revised, and the final package was prepared.Conclusion: This training package can be used as a valid manual by experts working at crisis lines to acquire the necessary information and skills to assist children and adolescents at risk of suicide. Further research is needed to assess the feasibility and utility of the package in real-world practice.