Psychometric Properties of the Clergy Suicide Prevention Competencies Developmental Rubric and Faith Leaders’ Readiness to Address Suicide Stigma

Elizabeth Taylor,Yuan Hu,David Korver,Karen Mason,Ji-Young Yoon

doi:10.3390/rel12070541

Abstract

Faith leaders (FL) have a key role in suicide prevention. One of their roles is to address suicide stigma in faith communities. Are they ready to do so? The Clergy Suicide Prevention Skills Developmental Rubric (CSPCDR) was developed to understand and assess clergy suicide prevention skills. The psychometric properties of the CSPCDR are reported in order to assess FL’ readiness to address suicide stigma. Sample 1, 186 Protestant seminary students completed the CSPCDR twice, resulting in Pearson’s r = 0.77. Sample 2, 187 Protestant clergy and lay ministers completed the CSPCDR before and after one of eight trainings to test construct validity; the CSPCDR performed as expected. Results suggest how to expand FL’ readiness to address suicide stigma in faith communities.

Highlights

The 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (HHS 2012) emphasizes the importance of infusing suicide prevention into a broad range of organizations, including faith-based organizations, in order to address suicide stigma (p. 30)
Doing so requires many skills, such as reflecting theologically about suicide, preaching, teaching about people of faith having difficulties, and fostering faith communities (FC) where people touched by suicide can reach out for help and FC can minister to them (Mason 2021)
This study will report on the psychometric properties of the Clergy Suicide Prevention Skills Developmental Rubric (CSPCDR) and on Faith leaders (FL)’ readiness to address suicide stigma in FC

Summary

Introduction

The 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (HHS 2012) emphasizes the importance of infusing suicide prevention into a broad range of organizations, including faith-based organizations, in order to address suicide stigma Preventing the tragedy of suicide” using a set of competencies which includes “reducing negative stereotypes” One of FL’ roles is to address suicide stigma in faith communities (FC). FL must develop a multiplicity of skills. It is not clear that FL have these skills and are ready to address suicide stigma in FC. This study will report on the psychometric properties of the Clergy Suicide Prevention Skills Developmental Rubric (CSPCDR) and on FL’ readiness to address suicide stigma in FC

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion