scholarly journals Taking Youth Suicide Prevention to the Schools: Pilot Evaluation of School-Based Clinician Outcomes and Perspectives of a Multi-Modal Program Including Post-Training Online Consultations for Management of Ongoing Suicide Risk

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-23
Author(s):  
Kate Gwyther ◽  
Ben McKechnie ◽  
Helen Nicoll ◽  
Elon Gersh ◽  
Christopher G. Davey ◽  
...  

School-based youth-specific suicide prevention and early intervention initiatives are presently underdeveloped. The current study conducted a pilot evaluation of a multi-modal suicide prevention training program for school-based social workers, ‘Management of Youth Suicidality Training for Schools’ (MYSTS). The program comprised a two-day workshop and six fortnightly post-workshop webinar online consultations. Participants were 36 social workers (years’ experience M = 11.23, SD = 8.29) employed by the Department of Education in Tasmania, Australia. Outcomes were self-rated confidence, competence, and knowledge of self-harm in young people, and attitudes toward suicide prevention and suicide-related behaviors. Exploratory quantitative results indicated significant improvements with large effect sizes for participants’ self-reported competence (d = 1.33), and confidence (d = 1.29) to identify and respond therapeutically to youth suicidality following the workshop. Confidence remained significantly higher than baseline following the online consultations (d = 0.90). Qualitative analysis of online supervision consultations indicated key themes of accessibility, communication and information sharing, and clinical management. Participants endorsed the MYSTS package as well-presented, with relevant topics, and effective learning activities. This study highlights the need for continued supervisory or implementation support to practitioners following suicide prevention training initiatives and suggests web-based teleconference technology as a feasible strategy for this. Further evaluation of the MYSTS package, including a suitable comparison or control condition, is indicated.

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette Shtivelband ◽  
Patricia A. Aloise-Young ◽  
Peter Y. Chen

Background: Gatekeeper training is a promising suicide prevention strategy that is growing in popularity. Although gatekeeper training programs have been found to improve trainee knowledge, self-efficacy, and perceived skills, researchers have found that the benefit of gatekeeper training may not last over time. Aims: The purpose of this study was to identify strategies for strengthening the long-term effects of suicide prevention gatekeeper training. Method: In-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with gatekeepers (N = 44) and data were analyzed using a qualitative research approach. Results: The results of this study suggest that posttraining interventions may be more effective if they include the following seven themes: (a) social network – connecting with other gatekeepers; (b) continued learning – further education; (c) community outreach – building awareness; (d) accessibility – convenience; (e) reminders – ongoing communication; (f) program improvement –- enhancing previous training; and (g) certification – accreditation. Conclusion: Posttraining interventions that incorporate the themes from this study offer a promising direction in which to sustain the effects of gatekeeper suicide prevention training.


2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina E. Krysinska ◽  
Diego De Leo

Development of information technology has created new opportunities and challenges in suicide prevention, research, and clinical practice. This article presents an overview of the wide range of telecommunication-based suicide prevention approaches. Interventions using the Internet, telephone, and videoconferencing are discussed, including crisis intervention, referral, and support, suicide risk assessment, psychotherapy for individuals at risk, and online-based suicide prevention training and education. Research regarding effectiveness of telecommunication-based suicide prevention in various demographic and clinical populations is reviewed, as well as concerns regarding this type of intervention. Future areas of research and development in the use of telecommunication media in prevention of suicide are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Mason ◽  
Monica Geist ◽  
Mollie Clark

Clergy have a key role in suicide prevention but report being undertrained, perhaps because a model that captures the competencies needed to engage suicide in faith communities and how these skills develop has not previously been available. Using grounded theory, this study addressed this gap by generating a developmental rubric based on interviews with 19 Protestant clergy, which were analyzed using a constant comparative method and were checked by interviewees operating at the highest level of development. The final 10 dimensions described over four developmental stages are (a) knowing role as clergy, (b) listening, (c) confidence, (d) risk assessment, (e) referral, (f) self-care, (g) community building, (h) postvention: ministering to survivors, (i) conducting memorial services or memorial ceremonies, and (j) clergy guilt. Results are based on clergy’s intuitive categories and provide a usable rubric for developing suicide prevention training for clergy.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document