A Mass-Distributed CD-ROM for School-Based Suicide Prevention

A suicide prevention CD-ROM was mass mailed to schools throughout the USA in January 1997. An initial evaluation of this intervention in the Chicago area found the impact was relatively narrow: only 39% of all schools with informants that were contacted actually received the CD-ROM & provided feedback for evaluation. Insufficient time, computer equipment & training were the major obstacles to CD-ROM use. Among those reviewing the CD-ROM, overall perceptions regarding its utility were extremely favourable. (18 refs.)