ERIC Number: EJ1253707
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1866-2625
EISSN: N/A
Is Gatekeeper Training Enough for Suicide Prevention?
Robinson-Link, Natasha; Hoover, Sharon; Bernstein, Larraine; Lever, Nancy; Maton, Kenneth; Wilcox, Holly
School Mental Health, v12 n2 p239-249 Jun 2020
While schools have the capacity to reach youth at-risk for suicide, there remains a gap between the number of youth with mental health issues and those who receive services. Accordingly, gatekeeper training programs, which teach community members signs of psychological distress and strategies to refer youth to mental health support, are often one component of suicide prevention. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of research about the efficacy of online gatekeeper training, which may provide the flexibility and accessibility needed for overburdened schools. This study sought to investigate whether "Kognito," an online and easily accessible gatekeeper training, was related to changes in teachers' suicide prevention beliefs, behavioral intentions, and behaviors (proportion of students approached and referred over time). Teachers significantly increased their beliefs (i.e., preparedness and self-efficacy) and behavioral intention (i.e., likelihood) to intervene with at-risk students. However, teachers did not change suicide intervention behaviors. Natural gatekeeper status (i.e., teachers approaching students at baseline) impacted number of referrals over time (in the opposite direction we predicted); however, natural gatekeeper status did not have an impact on proportion of students approached. Self-efficacy change, however, preceded change in proportion of students approached, but not referred. The findings, taken as a whole, indicate gatekeeper training alone appears insufficient to change suicide prevention behaviors, and accordingly, suicide prevention needs to employ a comprehensive approach.
Descriptors: At Risk Students, Suicide, Mental Health, Mental Disorders, Training, Teacher Attitudes, Teacher Behavior, Intention, Teacher Role, Self Efficacy, Teacher Competencies, Online Courses, Referral, Behavior Change, Prevention
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (DHHS/PHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1U79SM06175101