Abstract
BackgroundThe gatekeeper training is designed to help identify suicidal individuals, respond to suicidal ideation and refer to help. The internationally widely used training shows promising results. This is the first study presenting its effectiveness in the Netherlands and the first study investigating the effect in different employment sectors.MethodsIn an observational study, 113 Suicide Prevention – the Dutch suicide prevention expertise centre and lifeline - trained 526 professionals as gatekeepers. Changes in gatekeepers’ identifying and referral behaviour, knowledge of suicide prevention and skills-confidence were studied, using a pre-post (6 weeks after training) self-report questionnaire. Outcomes were analyzed with General Linear Model (GLM) repeated measures with four employment sectors (healthcare-, educational-, socioeconomic and other sectors) as a between-subjects factor.ResultsPre-post self-reports of 174 respondents showed no change in the identification of suicidal people, referrals to the general practitioner (GP) or lifeline 113, but significant improvement in professionals’ knowledge and confidence (p < .001). Results did not differ between employment sectors.ConclusionsThe gatekeeper training significantly increases suicide prevention knowledge and skills confidence in abilities to address suicidality. Healthcare, education, socioeconomic and other professionals (e.g. security, justice, transport, church workers) benefit similarly from the training. Increasing the number of gatekeeper training programs in all sectors is recommended.
Highlights
The gatekeeper training is designed to help identify suicidal individuals, respond to suicidal ideation and refer to help
The number of suicidal people that were spoken to by participants, the number of people that were referred to a general practitioner (GP) or to 113 Suicide Prevention by participants, did not change after training
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a suicide prevention gatekeeper training in the Netherlands among education professionals, designated healthcare professionals, employees in the socioeconomic sector and other professionals
Summary
The gatekeeper training is designed to help identify suicidal individuals, respond to suicidal ideation and refer to help. The internationally widely used training shows promising results. This is the first study presenting its effectiveness in the Netherlands and the first study investigating the effect in different employment sectors. Terpstra et al BMC Public Health (2018) 18:637 with suicidal ideation in healthcare and within community settings such as schools, volunteer organizations or social services. The Dutch suicide prevention expertise organization, 113 Suicide Prevention, provides a telephonic and digital ‘lifeline’ for anonymous help. The common goal was to contribute to a decrease in Dutch suicide rates by initiating and encouraging the realization of suicide prevention policies and other preventive activities. One of the important actions undertaken was disseminating gatekeeper trainings in community settings such as schools, GP offices and social services
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