Disconnect to reconnect: Breaking down barriers and enhancing social connections amongst the Indigenous communities & education institutions

Various studies have been conducted in recent years on the social isolation of the general population and marginalized Indigenous communities. Research done by CSCS (2021), indicates that Indigenous  people were just as likely as other populations to be at risk for loneliness, however, lower incomes and mental health disabilities caused greater scores in social isolation. […]

Applying indigenizing principles of decolonizing methodologies in university classrooms

This case study examines ongoing work to Indigenize education programs at one Canadian university. The history of the academy in Canada has been dominated by Western epistemologies, which have devalued Indigenous ways of knowing and set the grounds for continued marginalization of Indigenous students, communities, cultures, and histories. We argue that institutions of higher learning […]

Academic performance, subsequent socioeconomic status and suicide attempt in adulthood: Path analyses on Swedish cohort data

Background Poor academic performance in childhood is associated with suicide attempt in adulthood, but the mechanisms are not known. We investigated educational attainment as a possible pathway. Methods We followed two sets of cohorts, born around 1950/1970, respectively, in the Swedish population-representative ‘Evaluation Through Follow-up’ study for a first suicide attempt in national records up to 2013. […]

The impact of suicide bereavement on educational and occupational functioning: A qualitative study of 460 bereaved adults.

People bereaved by suicide are at an increased risk of suicide and of dropping out of education or work. Explanations for these associations are unclear, and more research is needed to understand how improving support in educational or work settings for people bereaved by suicide might contribute to reducing suicide risk. Our objective was to […]

Training Outcomes From the Samaritans of New York Suicide Awareness and Prevention Programme Among Community- and School-Based Staff

365 community- & school-based staff completed pre- & post-training measures of self-efficacy regarding their knowledge about suicide & suicide prevention, & their ability to intervene with individuals at risk for suicide. Results indicated increased self-efficacy after suicide prevention training than before. Trainees with higher levels of education & previous contact with suicidal individuals were significantly […]

School-Based Screening to Identify At-Risk Students not Already Known to School Professionals: the Columbia Suicide Screen

Students from 7 high schools in the New York metropolitan area completed the Columbia Suicide Screen, 489 of the 1729 students screened had positive results. The clinical status of 641 students (73% of those screening positive & 23% of those screening negative) was assessed. School professionals, unaware of students’ screening & diagnostic status, were asked […]

Strengthening the Safety Net: A Summary on the Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Initiative for BC/A Report on the Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Initiative for BC/Appendices for the Report and Summary on the Suicide

These documents present the structure for the suicide prevention, intervention, & postvention initiative for the province of British Columbia. Content includes: an introduction to the initiative; towards the development of a framework & planning template; the evidence-informed practice review; the snapshot survey; stakeholder survey for suicide prevention, intervention & postvention; the Suicide PIP Framework & […]

Does a Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Program Work in a School Setting? Evaluating Training Outcome and Moderators of Effectiveness

~

Project Safety Net: CSU Final Report: October 1, 2006 – September 30 2009

This report presents the results of an evaluation of 2 gatekeeper trainings: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) & Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR). Over the 3-year study period, 2453 participants in six Colorado communities received training. Trainees showed improvement from pre-tests to post-tests on suicide prevention knowledge, self-efficacy for suicide prevention, & intentions to inquire […]

A Community Approach to Suicide Prevention: a Look at American Campuses

Whether arising from depression or another disorder, suicide does occur on American campuses & is the second leading cause of death in students of traditional college age. Drawing from mainstream & professional sources, this article provides a description of various institutional changes, ranging from policy changes to information dissemination, designed to prevent suicide on college […]

Suicide Prevention and Intervention

With appropriate attention & thoughtful planning, the risk of student suicide can be minimized. In this article, the authors discuss the role of schools in suicide prevention & intervention. Programs should include awareness education & screening, crisis & mental health team coordination, collaboration with community services, reliance on evidence-based strategies, & clear intervention & postvention […]

Use of School-Based Health Centres for Mental Health Support in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

This study examined whether students with self-reported needs for mental health support used school-based health centres for this purpose. Data was collected from 1629 high school students in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. One-half of the surveyed students reported needs for mental health support. Multivariate logistic regression determined that female gender, lower socioeconomic status, sexual health […]

Youth Suicidal Behavior: an Introduction and Overview

This introductory article to a special issue of this journal provides an overview of youth suicidal behaviour, including research-based information on demographic data; risk factors & warning signs; & where, when, & how youth suicidal behaviour typically occurs. Commons myths & current controversies about youth suicide are also discussed, as are the implications of youth […]

Campus Suicide Prevention and Intervention: Putting Best Practice Policy Into Action

This article explores how one large western Canadian university has attempted to implement the comprehensive framework for suicide prevention developed by the Jed Foundation. A multi-faceted strategy was developed, focusing on seven broad intervention areas including student & community education, gatekeeper training, collaborative identification & treatment of depression, specialized training in suicide assessment & treatment, […]

Suicide Prevention Programs in the Schools: a Review and Public Health Perspective

This article provides a comprehensive review of school-based suicide prevention programs from a public health perspective. A literature review of empirical research was conducted for studies containing information pertaining to implementation & outcomes. A total of 13 studies were identified; 10 studies examined universal prevention programs & the remaining 3 looked at selected prevention programs. […]

Preventing Suicide by Jumping From Bridges Owned by the City of Ithaca and by Cornell University. Consultation to Cornell University: “Extended Report”

The authors were asked to consult on both immediate & long-term responses to recent suicides of students who jumped from bridges on or adjacent to the Cornell campus. This extended report includes the key issues conveyed at the consultation meetings & the major findings & recommendations of the consultants. It includes detailed summaries of the […]

The Sustained Reduction of Youth Suicidal Behavior in an Urban, Multicultural School District

An 18-year longitudinal case study of the suicide rates of Florida students attending a large, urban, multicultural school district between 1989-2006 is described. The high rate of suicide (5.5 per 100,000 students, ages 5-19) in the district during 1980-1988 led to the development & implementation of a district-wide prevention & intervention program incorporating universal, selected, […]

Mental Health Service use Among Suicidal Adolescents: Findings From a U.S. National Community Survey

This study assessed patterns of mental health service use among adolescents who had attempted suicide & examined factors associated with their service use at individual, family, & community levels. Bivariate & multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted with data from 877 adolescents who had attempted suicide in the past 12 months. Less than half reported […]

School and Community Violence and Victimization as Predictors of Adolescent Suicidal Behavior

This study examined the extent to which violent behaviour & peer victimization were associated with suicide ideation, plans, & attempts in a nationally representative sample of 11,113 American youth who completed the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Girls were more likely to report suicidal behaviour than were boys. Predictors of suicidal behaviour for both males […]

The Short-Term Effectiveness of a Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Program in a College Setting With Residence Life Advisers

This study examined the short-term effects of Question, Persuade, & Refer (QPR), a gatekeeper training program that teaches how to recognize warning signs, question suicidal intent, listen to problems, & refer for help. 122 residence advisers who were trained demonstrated significant post-training gains across a variety of domains relevant to suicide & suicide prevention, with […]

Putting it all Together: Implications for School Psychology

In this commentary, the author discusses ways in which the articles in this special issue of “School Psychology Review” contribute to the understanding of school-based suicide prevention & the ethical-legal issues associated with such efforts. (20 refs.)

Characteristics and Effects of Suicide Prevention Programs: Comparison Between Workplace and Other Settings

The study reviewed the literature on suicide prevention programs in the workplace, schools, community, medical facilities, jail, & the army by conducting a search of all articles published between 1967-November 2007. From a total of 256 articles, contents of suicide prevention programs & were determined. In 34 studies, the effect of programs was evaluated. Findings […]

Suicide Prevention in Schools as Viewed Through the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behavior

In this commentary, the author briefly describes his interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behaviour & argues that the theory’s constructs may allow a new level of focus & specificity for suicide prevention in general & for school-based suicide prevention in particular. In doing so, he discusses findings & concepts from other articles in this issue of […]