TY - JOUR
T1 - Preventing suicide in post-secondary students
T2 - a scoping review of suicide prevention programs
AU - Black, Melissa H.
AU - Scott, Melissa
AU - Baker-Young, Elliot
AU - Thompson, Craig
AU - McGarry, Sarah
AU - Hayden-Evans, Maya
AU - Snyman, Zelma
AU - Zimmermann, Frank
AU - Kacic, Viktor
AU - Falkmer, Torbjorn
AU - Romanos, Marcel
AU - Bölte, Sven
AU - Girdler, Sonya
AU - Milbourn, Benjamin
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Suicide among students enrolled in post-secondary education, including university or college, is a major public health concern. Previous research has examined the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs for this population. However, the effective elements of these interventions remain unknown. This study reviewed the literature on suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students, exploring and identifying those elements likely contributing to their effectiveness. A scoping review process was undertaken exploring suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students. Methodological quality of the articles was assessed, and content analysis was used to explore the programs and their effective elements. Twenty seven articles were included in this review, covering a variety of approaches. Gatekeeper training programs were the most common type of suicide prevention program. Programs for post-secondary students may be effective in improving student rates of engagement with mental health services and were associated with greater knowledge, and help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, and gatekeeper-related outcomes. While evidence was found supporting the effectiveness of some interventions such as gatekeeper programs to influence suicide-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, further and more rigorous research surrounding suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students is required, with a particular emphasis on student outcomes.
AB - Suicide among students enrolled in post-secondary education, including university or college, is a major public health concern. Previous research has examined the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs for this population. However, the effective elements of these interventions remain unknown. This study reviewed the literature on suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students, exploring and identifying those elements likely contributing to their effectiveness. A scoping review process was undertaken exploring suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students. Methodological quality of the articles was assessed, and content analysis was used to explore the programs and their effective elements. Twenty seven articles were included in this review, covering a variety of approaches. Gatekeeper training programs were the most common type of suicide prevention program. Programs for post-secondary students may be effective in improving student rates of engagement with mental health services and were associated with greater knowledge, and help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, and gatekeeper-related outcomes. While evidence was found supporting the effectiveness of some interventions such as gatekeeper programs to influence suicide-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, further and more rigorous research surrounding suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students is required, with a particular emphasis on student outcomes.
KW - Intervention
KW - Suicidality
KW - Suicide ideation
KW - Tertiary education
KW - University students
U2 - 10.1007/s00787-021-01858-8
DO - 10.1007/s00787-021-01858-8
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34373993
AN - SCOPUS:85112114139
SN - 1018-8827
VL - 32
SP - 735
EP - 771
JO - European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
JF - European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
IS - 5
ER -