Prevention of Youth Suicide: how Well Informed are the Potential Gatekeepers of Adolescents in Distress?

This study aimed to assess the adequacy of suicide knowledge among doctors & teachers in order to determine if there is a viable role for them in the prevention of youth suicide. Knowledge about adolescent suicide was investigated using the Adolescent Suicide Behaviour Questionnaire. General practitioners & teachers scored, on average, 71% & 59% of the questionnaire items correct, respectively. Strengths & deficits in knowledge across the two professions are discussd in terms of their potential gatekeeping role in suicide prevention. (38 refs)