Abstract
School-based youth-specific suicide prevention and early intervention initiatives are presently underdeveloped. The current study conducted a pilot evaluation of a multi-modal suicide prevention training program for school-based social workers, ‘Management of Youth Suicidality Training for Schools’ (MYSTS). The program comprised a two-day workshop and six fortnightly post-workshop webinar online consultations. Participants were 36 social workers (years’ experience M = 11.23, SD = 8.29) employed by the Department of Education in Tasmania, Australia. Outcomes were self-rated confidence, competence, and knowledge of self-harm in young people, and attitudes toward suicide prevention and suicide-related behaviors. Exploratory quantitative results indicated significant improvements with large effect sizes for participants’ self-reported competence (d = 1.33), and confidence (d = 1.29) to identify and respond therapeutically to youth suicidality following the workshop. Confidence remained significantly higher than baseline following the online consultations (d = 0.90). Qualitative analysis of online supervision consultations indicated key themes of accessibility, communication and information sharing, and clinical management. Participants endorsed the MYSTS package as well-presented, with relevant topics, and effective learning activities. This study highlights the need for continued supervisory or implementation support to practitioners following suicide prevention training initiatives and suggests web-based teleconference technology as a feasible strategy for this. Further evaluation of the MYSTS package, including a suitable comparison or control condition, is indicated.
Highlights
Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 15–24, accounting for 38% of deaths in this age group [1]
School social workers may be a primary point of contact for students experiencing thoughts of suicide, which range from non-specific thoughts regarding desirability, to thoughts regarding intent, to actual attempts
This study suggests that the Management of Youth Suicidality Training for Schools’ (MYSTS) workshop and follow-up consultations were effective for increasing school social workers’ confidence and self-reported competence to respond to young people presenting with suicidality
Summary
Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 15–24, accounting for 38% of deaths in this age group [1]. Estimates of suicide-related behaviors in Australian high-school aged young people suggest that in any 12-month period, 8–10% seriously consider suicide, 6–8% make a plan, and up to 6% may attempt suicide [2]. Given these estimates, it is not surprising that management of suicide risk is a necessary focus in school settings. Young people in Australia are more likely to seek help from school staff rather than specialist care providers [3] In this regard, school social workers may be a primary point of contact for students experiencing thoughts of suicide, which range from non-specific thoughts regarding desirability, to thoughts regarding intent, to actual attempts. Social workers routinely report minimal or insufficient training for identification and response to youth suicide risk [4,5]
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