Effectiveness of the surviving the Teens® suicide prevention and depression awareness program: an impact evaluation utilizing a comparison group.
Youth suicide is a serious public health issue in the United States. It is currently the third leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 19. School-based prevention programs may be an effective method of educating youth and enhancing their help-seeking. Most school-based suicide prevention programs have not been rigorously evaluated for their effectiveness. This evaluation employs a comparison group to measure whether program group participants differed significantly from comparison group participants on pretest-posttest measures while assessing the immediate impact of the Surviving the Teens® Suicide Prevention and Depression Awareness Program. Findings indicate several positive outcomes in program group students' suicide and depression knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and behavioral intentions compared with the comparison group. Suicide prevention specialists and prevention planners may benefit from study findings.
Cincinnati Children's Medical Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA cathy.strunk@chmcc.org.
Catherine M
CM
Strunk
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Keith A
KA
King
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Rebecca A
RA
Vidourek
Cincinnati Children's Medical Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Michael T
MT
Sorter
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003142:Communication; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
adolescence; injury prevention; safety; school-based mental health; social cognitive theory