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A brief peer gatekeeper suicide prevention training: Results of an open pilot trial
Author(s) -
Rallis Bethany A.,
EspositoSmythers Christianne,
Disabato David J.,
Mehlenbeck Robyn S.,
Kaplan Seth,
Geer Leslie,
Adams Ryan,
Meehan Barbara
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22590
Subject(s) - psychology , suicide prevention , context (archaeology) , mental health , population , poison control , injury prevention , occupational safety and health , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , medical emergency , paleontology , environmental health , pathology , biology
Objective The purpose of the present study was to test a 1‐hour peer suicide gatekeeper training for students from the broad college community in the context of an open pilot trial. Method Two‐hundred and thirty‐one college students were recruited university‐wide, M age = 20.7, 65.4% female, and completed a peer suicide prevention gatekeeping training program. Assessments were completed at pre‐training and post‐training as well as 3‐month follow‐up. Results This brief peer suicide gatekeeper training program was associated with increases in suicide prevention knowledge. It was also associated with an increase in the number of students who identified suicidal youth and made mental health referrals, as well as total number of referrals made, over the course of three months. Females reported greater improvement in suicide prevention skills and knowledge post‐training than males. Conclusions Offering peer suicide gatekeeper training to students from the general college population may hold promise in suicide prevention efforts.