Examining the Unanticipated Adverse Consequences of Youth Suicide Prevention Strategies: A Literature Review with Recommendations for Prevention Programs

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 952-965
Author(s):  
Nora Kuiper ◽  
David Goldston ◽  
Lucas Godoy Garraza ◽  
Christine Walrath ◽  
Madelyn Gould ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Youth Suicide ◽  
Prevention Strategies

Preventive Interventions for Youth Suicide: A Risk Factor-Based Approach

2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane M. Burns ◽  
George C. Patton
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Research Evaluation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Preventive Interventions ◽  
Youth Suicide ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Clinical Interventions ◽  
Traditional Approaches

Objective: This review draws on current knowledge of risk for youth suicide to categorise strategies for intervention. Its goal is to identify areas of ‘research need’ and to provide an evidence base to identify ‘best buy’ preventive interventions for youth suicide. Method: The design, development, implementation and evaluation of prevention strategies ranging from clinical interventions to population-based universal approaches are considered within five risk factor domains: individual, family, community, school and peer. Results: There is a paucity of evidence on the effects of interventions targeting depression and suicidal behaviour. Nevertheless, there are effective indicated, selective and universal interventions for important risk factors for depression and suicidal behaviour. Little evidence has emerged to support the efficacy of some traditional approaches to suicide prevention, such as school based suicide education programs and telephone hotlines. Conclusions: Youth suicide prevention strategies in Australia have generally employed traditional approaches that focus on clinical interventions for self-harmers, restricting access to lethal means, providing services to high risk groups and enhancing general practitioner responses. Both program development and research evaluation of interventions for many important risk and protective factors for suicide have been neglected.

scholarly journals Suicide Prevention: An Issue of Social Justice

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-79
Author(s):  
John S. Westefeld
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Human Service ◽  
Political Action ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Major Significance ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs

The concept of social justice has assumed major significance in the human service professions, as suicide rates have increased. However, social justice remains a difficult concept to define. This article explores definitions of social justice, as well as the intersection of social justice and suicide prevention. A review of suicide prevention programs is presented, including both systemic prevention programs and individual prevention strategies. This evolves into a discussion concerning why suicide prevention is in fact a very significant social justice issue. Finally, implications for mental health professionals, including counseling psychologists, the profession that originated this journal, are examined, and suggestions for future issues of focus related to the intersection of suicide prevention and social justice are presented. To take a social justice approach to suicide prevention, it is suggested that an interdisciplinary structure be utilized to maximize political action.

A Systematic Review of Evaluated Suicide Prevention Programs Targeting Indigenous Youth

Crisis ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 310-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa F. Harlow ◽  
India Bohanna ◽  
Alan Clough
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Youth Suicide ◽  
Indigenous Youth ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs

Background: Indigenous young people have significantly higher suicide rates than their non-indigenous counterparts. There is a need for culturally appropriate and effective suicide prevention programs for this demographic. Aims: This review assesses suicide prevention programs that have been evaluated for indigenous youth in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. Method: The databases MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched for publications on suicide prevention programs targeting indigenous youth that include reports on evaluations and outcomes. Program content, indigenous involvement, evaluation design, program implementation, and outcomes were assessed for each article. Results: The search yielded 229 articles; 90 abstracts were assessed, and 11 articles describing nine programs were reviewed. Two Australian programs and seven American programs were included. Programs were culturally tailored, flexible, and incorporated multiple-levels of prevention. No randomized controlled trials were found, and many programs employed ad hoc evaluations, poor program description, and no process evaluation. Conclusion: Despite culturally appropriate content, the results of the review indicate that more controlled study designs using planned evaluations and valid outcome measures are needed in research on indigenous youth suicide prevention. Such changes may positively influence the future of research on indigenous youth suicide prevention as the outcomes and efficacy will be more reliable.

Defining Youth Suicide

2017 ◽  
pp. 483-496
Author(s):  
Herbert Hendin ◽  
Ann P. Haas ◽  
Jill Harkavy-Friedman ◽  
Maggie Mortali
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Youth Suicide ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
What Works

This chapter looks at suicide among adolescents and young adults. Although true suicide causation is difficult to empirically establish, an accumulated body of research points to a number of individual and environmental factors that have been closely and fairly consistently associated with youth suicidal behaviors. These risk factors are identified and briefly discussed here. The chapter looks the behavioral and environmental factors for suicide. The main aim of this chapter is to examine current youth suicide prevention strategies and interventions with an eye towards identifying what works, what does not appear to work, and what research needs to be undertaken to move the field forward. Given the multiplicity of risk and protective factors that have been related to youth suicide, it is understandable that many different approaches have been taken in the attempt to prevent this behaviour.

Evaluation of School Based Suicide Prevention Programs Effectiveness

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
S. Kutcher
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Youth Suicide ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
School Based ◽  
Suicide Interventions ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs

Youth suicide is a significant public health issue that requires effective evidence based interventions. School based suicide prevention programs are popular in many jurisdictions and there is a perception that they are effective in reducing youth suicide rates. This presentation will apply a comprehensive evaluation framework to determine the effectiveness of school suicide prevention programs as described in the literature and will identify those conceptual and research issues that need to be addressed to develop and deliver effective school based suicide interventions.

The Impact of Universal Suicide-Prevention Programs on the Help-Seeking Attitudes and Behaviors of Youths

Crisis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie Klimes-Dougan ◽  
David A. Klingbeil ◽  
Sarah J. Meller
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Universal Prevention ◽  
Help Seeking Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs ◽  
The Impact

Background: While the ultimate goal of adolescent suicide-prevention efforts is to decrease the incidence of death by suicide, a critical intermediary goal is directing youths toward effective sources of assistance. Aim: To comprehensively review the universal prevention literature and examine the effects of universal prevention programs on student’s attitudes and behaviors related to help-seeking. Method: We systematically reviewed studies that assessed help-seeking outcomes including prevention efforts utilizing (1) psychoeducational curricula, (2) gatekeeper training, and (3) public service messaging directed at youths. Of the studies reviewed, 17 studies evaluated the help-seeking outcomes. These studies were identified through a range of sources (e.g., searching online databases, examining references of published articles on suicide prevention). Results: The results of this review suggest that suicide-prevention programming has a limited impact on help-seeking behavior. Although there was some evidence that suicide-prevention programs had a positive impact on students’ help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, there was also evidence of no effects or iatrogenic effects. Sex and risk status were moderators of program effects on students help-seeking. Conclusions: Caution is warranted when considering which suicidal prevention interventions best optimize the intended goals. The impact on adolescents’ help-seeking behavior is a key concern for educators and mental-health professionals.

Perceptions of a Peer Suicide Prevention Program by Inmates and Professionals Working in Prisons

Crisis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Auzoult ◽  
Sid Abdellaoui
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Penal Institutions ◽  
Peer Suicide ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs ◽  
Methods Of Suicide

Background: Suicide prevention is a major challenge for penal institutions in many countries. The traditional approach relies on the expertise of health professionals and is supplemented by the intervention of other professionals and the inmates themselves. New methods of suicide prevention based on peer support have been developed in recent years. Peer prevention programs rely on the ability of inmates to identify suicide risk. Aims: This study examines perceived suicide risk among inmates and explores possible explanations. Method: 54 inmates and 17 professionals working in prisons responded to a questionnaire. Results: The peer prevention program was found to change inmates’ expectations of support in the event of a suicide crisis. The study also found that the inmates involved in the program tended to underestimate the risk of suicide. The perception of the prevention program and the level of self-consciousness were found to account for the underestimation of suicide risk. Conclusions: Support for inmates involved in suicide prevention programs must take into account their isolation in prison. The training provided to inmates must also consider the biases affecting the assessment of risk.

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