title: Emotionally troubled teens' help-seeking behaviors: an evaluation of surviving the Teens® suicide prevention and depression awareness program.
abstract: Many school-based suicide prevention programs do not show a positive impact on help-seeking behaviors among emotionally troubled teens despite their being at high risk for suicide. This study is a secondary analysis of the Surviving the Teens(®) program evaluation to determine its effect on help-seeking behaviors among troubled youth. Results showed significant increases in mean scores of the Behavioral Intent to Communicate with Important Others Regarding Emotional Health Issues subscale (p < .0005) from pretest to 3-month follow-up. There was a significant increase (p = .006) in mean scores of the Behavioral Intent Regarding Help-Seeking Behaviors when Suicidal subscale from pretest to posttest, but not at 3-month follow-up. Also, there was a significant increase (p = .016) in mean scores in the item "I would tell an adult if I was suicidal" from pretest to 3-month follow-up. These findings suggest that the Surviving the Teens program has a positive effect on help-seeking behaviors in troubled youth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Medical Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA cathy.strunk@chmcc.org.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Strunk
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Medical Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sorter
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Nursing Studies, Northern Kentucky University College of Health Professions, Highland Heights, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Julianne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ossege
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion and Education, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
keywords: health education; high school; mental health; safety/injury prevention; self-injury