title: Project SOAR: a training program to increase school counselors' knowledge and confidence regarding suicide prevention and intervention.
abstract: School counselors are often the lead individuals in school suicide prevention programs. All school counselors in Dallas, Texas, receive training through Project SOAR (Suicide, Options, Awareness, and Relief), a suicide prevention program. This study assessed Dallas school counselors' knowledge of suicidal risk factors and perceived ability to initiate appropriate steps when confronted with a suicidal student. A two-page, 44-item survey was distributed to all Dallas school counselors attending a mandatory meeting in spring 1999. A total of 186 school counselors (75%) responded. Most had been a school counselor for less than 10 years and one-half received initial SOAR training less than four years ago. The majority strongly agreed that they could recognize suicidal warning signs, assess a student's risk for suicide, and offer support to a suicidal student. In addition, most knew the intervention steps to take when a student assessed at high suicidal risk. When compared to school counselors nationwide, these counselors reported increased confidence in identifying students at suicidal risk.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion and Education Program, University of Cincinnati, ML 0002, 526 TC, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0002, USA. keith.king@uc.edu
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013781:Texas; D000092864:Suicide Prevention