Dos and Don'ts in Designing School-Based Awareness Programs for Suicide Prevention: Results of a Three-Stage Delphi Survey

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Luna Grosselli - , Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Kristina Herzog - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Robert H. Aseltine - , University of Connecticut (Author)
  • Judit Balazs - , Eotvos Lorand University, Bjørknes University College (Author)
  • Vladimir Carli - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Jerry Ciffone - , Private practice (Author)
  • Diego De Leo - , Griffith University Queensland, University of Primorska (Author)
  • Christina Van Der Feltz-Cornelis - , University of York (Author)
  • Keith Hawton - , University of Oxford (Author)
  • Ulrich Hegerl - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Kairi Kõlves - , Griffith University Queensland (Author)
  • Stan Kutcher - , Dalhousie University (Author)
  • Lars Mehlum - , University of Oslo (Author)
  • Thomas Niederkrotenthaler - , Medical University of Vienna (Author)
  • Mohsen Rezaeian - , Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (Author)
  • Johanne Renaud - , McGill University (Author)
  • Barbara Schneider - , LVR-Klinik Köln (Author)
  • Ute Lewitzka - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Jürgen Hoyer - , Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Chair of Behavioral Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Susanne Knappe - , Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Chair of Behavioral Epidemiology (Author)

Abstract

Background: Despite the promising evidence for the effectiveness of school-based awareness programs in decreasing the rates of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in young people, no guidelines on the targets and methods of safe and effective awareness programs exist. Aims: This study intends to distill recommendations for school-based suicide awareness and prevention programs from experts. Method: A three-stage Delphi survey was administered to an expert panel between November 2018 and March 2019. A total of 214 items obtained from open-ended questions and the literature were rated in two rounds. Consensus and stability were used as assessment criteria. Results: The panel consisted of 19 participants in the first and 13 in the third stage. Recommended targets included the reduction of suicide attempts, the enhancement of help-seeking and peer support, as well as the promotion ofmental health literacy and life skills. Program evaluation, facilitating access to healthcare, and long-term action plans across multiple levels were among the best strategies for the prevention of adverse effects. Limitations: The study is based on opinions of a rather small number of experts. Conclusion: The promotion of help-seeking and peer support as well as facilitating access to mental health-care utilities appear pivotal for the success of school-based awareness programs.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)270-277
Number of pages8
JournalCrisis
Volume43
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 34042491
ORCID /0000-0002-1697-6732/work/148632190

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • awareness, Delphi survey, school, suicide prevention, young people

Library keywords