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Suicide intervention: Training, roles, and knowledge of school psychologists
Author(s) -
Debski Jennifer,
Spadafore Candy Dubord,
Jacob Susan,
Poole Debra A.,
Hixson Michael D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
psychology in the schools
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1520-6807
pISSN - 0033-3085
DOI - 10.1002/pits.20213
Subject(s) - psychology , suicide prevention , intervention (counseling) , preparedness , crisis intervention , injury prevention , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , medical education , warning signs , occupational safety and health , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , medical emergency , pathology , political science , transport engineering , law , engineering
Practitioner‐members of the National Association of School Psychologists ( N = 162) completed questionnaires regarding their suicide prevention and postvention roles, training, preparedness, and knowledge. Most were crisis team members, yet less than one‐half reported graduate training in suicide risk assessment and less than one‐fourth in postvention. Compared to nondoctoral‐level practitioners, doctoral‐trained practitioners felt better prepared to handle suicidal students. Most respondents had participated in a suicide risk assessment in the past 2 years, with few using standardized measures. Performance was moderately strong on questions about knowledge of risk factors, warning signs, and appropriate steps to respond to a suicidal student, but respondents showed less familiarity with postvention recommendations intended to discourage contagion. Training suggestions were identified. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 157–170, 2007.