scholarly journals Implementing Suicide Prevention Training into an Athletic Training Curriculum: An Introductory Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-100
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Plos ◽  
Kelly Crowley ◽  
Renee L. Polubinsky ◽  
Cara Cerullo

Context Best practice guidelines indicate the need for suicide prevention training for athletic trainers. However, no resources exist that address suicide prevention programs that are specifically designed for athletic trainers and their roles working with student-athletes and mental health crisis teams. Objective To describe an introductory model for implementing suicide prevention training into an athletic training curriculum. Background Current Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education standards identify suicidal ideation as one of the behavioral health conditions that need to be addressed within athletic training curricula. Introducing educational models for implementing suicide prevention training and mental health emergency action plans (EAPs) into curricula will assist educators in preparing athletic training students to recognize and assist student-athletes who are in a suicidal crisis. Description An introductory educational model for implementing suicide prevention training into an athletic training curriculum that highlights gatekeeper training, appropriate suicide terminology, recognition of suicidal ideation in student-athletes, proper responses to student-athletes in crisis, use of experiential exercises, and development of a mental health—suicide-specific EAP. Clinical Advantage(s) Within this educational model, a threefold benefit exists for athletic training students: (1) engagement in meaningful experiential exercises to enhance their readiness to enter clinical practice with the skills and knowledge needed to recognize, assist, and refer student-athletes dealing with suicidal ideation; (2) skill development in the design, development, and implementation of a mental health—suicide-specific EAP; (3) interdisciplinary collaboration with mental health professionals that enhances appreciation for their expertise and promotes the value of each professional's role on the mental health crisis team. Conclusion(s) This introductory model for implementing suicide prevention training within an athletic training curriculum offers an instructional strategy that supports the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education standards, professional readiness for athletic training students, and interdisciplinary collaboration among mental health and athletic training professionals.

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
B Thomas ◽  
S Chaturvedula

Introduction: Mental health promotion and suicide prevention are important initiatives of Indian Air Force (IAF) for its personnel. Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), Bengaluru, has been conducting suicide prevention training programs for the IAF personnel since 1997. More than a 100 programs have been completed. In-time identification of the vulnerable, empowerment of instructors, provision of information about suicide prevention and improvement of approach toward the ab initio who are at risk are the focus of the suicide prevention program (SPP). This paper aims at assessing the efficacy of the mentoring skills imparted during the suicide prevention training in successfully identifying and providing support to the vulnerable ab initio cadets in the training establishments of IAF. Material and Methods: Mentors (n = 34) who are instructors in the training establishments in IAF and who have completed SPP conducted by IAM participated in the study. A feedback tool which was to assess the usefulness of the SPP in terms of the extended use of mentoring skills in their work, problems faced in the identification of the vulnerable persons, challenges faced in their mentoring activities were administered. Qualitative analysis was carried out and compiled. Results: Qualitative analysis brought out certain important issues regarding the challenges faced by the mentors and their competency in effectively dealing with the challenges. The results provide support in improving the existing SPPs and the role of mentors in mental health promotion in IAF. Conclusion: Suicide prevention program being conducted at IAM (IAF) was found to be beneficial to the mentors. It also addressed some of the professional and personal challenges faced by them. The findings of the study has brought out important take home messages for refining the program in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i13-i14
Author(s):  
H C Gorton ◽  
R Elliott ◽  
I Noonan

Abstract Introduction Suicide prevention is a Government priority and affects every sector of society.(1) The role of mental health nurses (MHN) in suicide prevention is more obvious than that of pharmacists. However, the requirement for suicide prevention training in community pharmacy staff has been incentivized in England through its inclusion in the Pharmacy Quality Scheme. (2) There is no standardized requirement for suicide prevention training in the MPharm degree so we curated an interprofessional education (IPE) session involving pharmacy and MHN students in order to learn about suicide prevention in a mutually beneficial way. Aim We aimed to evaluate the IPE session to understand the attitudes towards suicide and preparedness to help someone thinking about or planning suicide of both sets of students. We aimed to compare any changes in attitude before and after the session both within and between pharmacy students and MHN students. Methods We delivered two IPE sessions on suicide, 3.5 hours in length. Students attended one session. This was compulsory for pharmacy students and optional for MHN students. We evaluated the session through a duplicated, anonymous online survey, via the Qualtrics® platform, at the start and end of the session. Students were informed that this was an optional evaluation. They self-assigned a code that we used to link their answers. We invited students to answer a series of questions to assess their attitudes and preparedness to suicide prevention. We summarised these data using descriptive statistics related to individual statements and composite scores. We used Independent-samples median test and Wilcoxon-Signed Rank Tests to compare data distributions between professional groups before the session, between groups after the session and then to understand change within subject groups, using paired data only. Results 104 students completed the initial survey of which 46% (n=48) were pharmacy students. MHN students reported being more prepared to respond to suicide (median:14, IQR 12–15) than pharmacy students (median: 8, IQR 6–10). Prior to the session, there were no statistically significant differences in responses to the attitude questions between MHN and pharmacy students, barring one question (‘I don’t feel comfortable assessing someone for suicide risk’). A statistically significant increase in preparedness was reported both pharmacy students (p<0.005) and MHN students (p<0.005), following the session (n=76 in paired analysis). MHN students (median: 15, IQR 15–17) continued to report higher levels of preparedness than pharmacy students (median=13, IQR: 10–15). Conclusion We present an innovative session in suicide awareness involving two professional groups. MHN self-reported higher levels of preparedness in suicide prevention than pharmacy students both before and after the session but an improvement was seen in both groups. These results indicate that IPE between MHN and pharmacy students could improve preparedness relating to suicide. More work is needed to explore the optimal content of training and longitudinal impact of training involving more students, as well as understanding if self-reported preparedness translates to professional behaviour, all of which are limitations of the current study References 1. HM Government H. Preventing suicide in England: Third progress report on the cross-government outcomes strategy to save lives. London: HM Government; 2017. 2. NHS Business Service Authority. Drug Tariff; 2020 [cited 07 Oct 2020]. Available at: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/drug-tariff


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.


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