title: University students' perceived self-efficacy in identifying suicidal warning signs and helping suicidal friends find campus intervention resources.
abstract: Currently, suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth 18 to 24 years of age and the second leading cause of death on college campuses. A sample of students (N = 1,019) from three midwestern universities were surveyed regarding their perceived self-efficacy in identifying suicide warning signs and campus suicide intervention resources. The results indicated that 11% strongly believed they could recognize a friend at suicidal risk, while 17% strongly believed they could ask a friend if he or she was suicidal. Students who had received high school suicide prevention education and who had ever had a family member or friend express suicidal thoughts to them were those most confident in recognizing a friend at risk, asking a friend if he/she is suicidal, and helping a friend to see a counselor. Most (71%) were not aware of on-campus help resources. These findings underscore the importance of suicide prevention education throughout the high school and college years.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0068, USA. keith.king@uc.edu
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vidourek
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Strader
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult