The United States has the highest suicide rate of any wealthy nation, exacerbated by a sixfold risk of suicide in the first week post-discharge from acute psychiatric treatment. The distinct phase of recovery and treatment as individuals transition from acute psychiatric treatment to community care is especially precarious, elucidating the presence of pervasive gaps in care that is compounded by the fact that less than half of commercially insured patients and a third of Medicare patients receive psychiatric follow-up within seven days of discharge from acute care. Through a comprehensive literature review and innovative application of theoretical frameworks for holistic care, the present research explores the potential for integrating narrative medicine into psychiatric care. Offering a means for patient empowerment, fostering trust in provider-patient relationships, and bridging acute psychiatric care and community care through patient-controlled therapeutic practices, narrative medicine presents the unique opportunity to redress systemic failures and mitigate the gap in care that perpetuates unprecedentedly high suicide rates.
Alba Baumgardner is a senior at Salem College majoring in Psychological Science and Health Humanities with a minor in History. Appreciative of the Salem community, Alba has been involved in various campus organizations, including the Student Government Association, Off-Campus Association, Active Minds, and bringing the nonprofit organization Open Table to Salem. With a love for uplifting and empowering others, she hopes to attend graduate school to pursue a career in Social Work.