Program Spotlight: Hope-Link
“You’ve made such an impact on my life, I was so distraught that I didn’t want to live anymore, but you have given me hope. [You were] the only one to check on me consistently. I’m so much better! You got me through, and I am grateful!”
– Hope-Link client, 83 years old
When someone is discharged from the hospital after attempting suicide, the first 24 hours can be the most vulnerable. The next twelve months can also be a period of elevated risk. Research consistently demonstrates that follow-up services after an Emergency Department visit or inpatient stay are critical to reducing deaths by suicide. While Cuyahoga County boasts one of the most robust healthcare networks in the country, until recently, there was no program in place to support children and adults during this vulnerable time.
In 2020, with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, FrontLine Service launched Hope-Link, a program dedicated to supporting children and adults during the first year following an attempted or significant thoughts of suicide. FrontLine modeled Hope-Link after two successful pilot projects the agency ran in 2010 and 2017 in partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, respectively.
Hope-Link accepts referrals from hospitals throughout the county, as well as the 24/7 Crisis Call Center. Four trained Call Center staff members contact each referred individual 24 hours after discharge, as well as three, six, and twelve months after discharge. During each call, the clinician assesses the individual for risk and supports their engagement with ongoing mental health care. As of November of 2022, Hope-Link staff had outreached 1,861 Cuyahoga County residents.
The following hospitals have partnered with FrontLine to educate eligible patients about the program, obtain consent, and make referrals to the program: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic, Lutheran Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital, Fairview Hospital, Euclid Hospital, Marymount Hospital, South Pointe Hospital, Lakewood Family Health Center, University Hospitals, UH Ahuja Medical Center, UH Parma Medical Center, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s, UH Lake West Medical Center, UH St. John Medical Center, and Southwest General.
The program’s designated Hospital Engagement Specialist continues to build awareness about the program and educate hospital staff on how to refer patients to Hope-Link.
For more information about how to make referrals to Hope-Link or to request a presentation, email hopelink@frontlineservice.org or call (216) 430-0866
Learn more about our crisis services by clicking the button below.