Suicide prevention in adolescents: a controlled study of the effectiveness of a school-based psycho-educational program.
BACKGROUND
Psycho-educational programs are among the most commonly applied suicide prevention approaches for young people. This study examined the effectiveness of these programs in a controlled study by assessing the effect on knowledge, attitudes, coping and hopelessness.


METHODS
Fourteen- to 18-year-old students were administered structured questionnaires before and after the program to assess the effect on knowledge, attitudes, coping and hopelessness.


RESULTS
The program had no effect on coping styles and levels of hopelessness. However, a positive effect on knowledge could be identified and an interaction effect of the program with gender on attitudes was also found. A negative impact of the program could not be found. Results indicated effects of gender and pre-test on knowledge, attitudes and coping.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings from this study suggest that psycho-educational programs in schools may influence knowledge about suicide and attitudes towards suicidal persons but may not affect the use of coping styles or levels of hopelessness.
Portzky
Gwendolyn
G
Unit for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium. Gwendolyn.portzky@UGent.be
van Heeringen
Kees
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016730:Program Development; D011584:Psychology / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome