School-wide staff and faculty training in suicide risk awareness: successes and challenges.
OBJECTIVE
Rates of youth suicide and suicidal behavior remain high despite prevention efforts. Training high school personnel as gatekeepers is an important strategy.


METHODS
Training was implemented in a school district's five comprehensive high schools. Surveys were conducted before and after training sessions, which targeted all adults working at the high school. Two hundred thirty-seven individuals completed the pretest and/or posttest.


RESULTS
Participants reported gains in knowledge, confidence, and feelings of competence in recognizing, approaching, and connecting distressed youth to school-based resources. Training was well received.


CONCLUSIONS
Training is acceptable and appropriate for school personnel. Increasing the number of school personnel who participate in the training is challenging.
Reconnecting Youth Prevention Research Program, Psychosocial and Community Health, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle, WA, USA. emwalsh@uw.edu
Elaine
E
Walsh
Carole
C
Hooven
Barbara
B
Kronick
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012040:Regional Health Planning / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D000092864:Suicide Prevention