Research aim
Suicide prevention is a key public health priority in Greenland. Further knowledge is needed to understand how healthcare services can best support people experiencing suicidal thoughts or who have attempted suicide.

The aim of SPRING is to generate knowledge that can strengthen and further develop suicide prevention in Greenland, drawing on both clinical experience and Greenlandic perspectives. The project will explore patients' experiences and outcomes over time, identify factors associated with well-being, improvement, and engagement in treatment, and examine the roles of culture, social relationships, and resources that people themselves find helpful during difficult periods.

Design and methods
SPRING is a research project conducted through close collaboration between the Department of Psychiatry at Queen Ingrid's Hospital (Dronning Ingrids Hospital, DIH) in Greenland and the Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry at Herlev-Gentofte Hospital in Denmark. The project includes both quantitative and qualitative components. Two PhD students will be affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry in Greenland, with academic affiliations to Ilisimatusarfik (the University of Greenland) and the University of Copenhagen. The project is based on the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), an approach already used in psychiatric care in Greenland. CAMS involves patients and clinicians working collaboratively to understand the difficulties underlying suicidal thoughts and to identify possible solutions and strategies for managing challenging situations.​

The quantitative component will use questionnaires, clinical treatment data, and a six-month follow-up to examine patients' experiences and outcomes over time. The analyses will explore factors associated with well-being, improvement, and engagement in treatment. The qualitative component will consist of interviews with patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals. These interviews will explore their experiences of and perspectives on suicide prevention and CAMS treatment, with particular attention to the roles of culture, social relationships, and the personal and social resources that people find helpful during difficult periods. By combining quantitative and qualitative methods, SPRING aims to develop a more comprehensive understanding of suicide prevention in Greenland and to generate knowledge that can inform the future development of clinical practice and services.

Population
The quantitative component is expected to include approximately 270 patients aged 15 years and older who are referred for CAMS treatment over a three-year period. All patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to participate in the research. The qualitative component will involve interviews with approximately 20 patients, as well as relatives and healthcare professionals, to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and perspectives. 

Primary investigators: Avianguaq Aqara Lyberth Kreutzmann, MD, PhD student, Kulunnguaq Rosing Petersen, MSc Psychology, PhD student ​

Academic supervisors: Jessica Carlsson, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor, Henriette L. Attardo, MSc Public Health, PhD, Maria Westergaard, MD, PhD, Britt Reuter Morthorst, MSc Public Health, PhD, Associate Professor

Clinical supervisors: Francisco Alberdi Olano, MD, Ben Rosenbaum, MD, Dr MedSci, Professor Emeritus ​