title: The Role of Teachers in School-Based Suicide Prevention: A Qualitative Study of School Staff Perspectives.
abstract: In response to concerns over youth suicide, there has been an increase in school-based suicide prevention programs. However, we know little about teacher perspectives on school-based suicide prevention and mental health programs. This study examined teacher roles in the implementation of a district-wide suicide prevention program through focus groups and interviews with middle school teachers, administrators, and other school personnel. Study results highlighted teachers' critical role in detecting students at risk for suicide. Factors that appeared to facilitate teacher participation in the suicide prevention program included well-defined crisis policies and procedures, communication of these procedures, collaboration across staff, and the presence of on-campus mental health resources. Participants identified a need for direct teacher training on risk factors for suicide, crisis response, and classroom management. Other strategies for improving suicide prevention efforts included in-school trainings on mental health resources and procedures, regular updates to these trainings, and greater visibility of mental health staff.
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health Services and Policy Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Erum
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nadeem
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA, UCLA Center for Health Services and Society, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sheryl H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.affiliation: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Vickie Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: UCLA Center for Health Services and Society, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vona
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Stein
keywords: School mental health; Suicide prevention; Teachers