Perceptions of Suicide Risk and the Helpfulness of Intervention Strategies: a Comparison of Students and Mothers

College students & mothers listened to simulated hotline calls & rated level of suicide risk & the helpfulness of interventions. Students perceived emotional problems to be associated with risk; mothers, more than students, perceived changes in behavior to be associated with risk. Students & mothers agreed regarding the helpfulness of different interventions, rating talking as most helpful. Results suggest a need for more research on the skills adolescents bring to crisis situations (19 refs).