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QPR Gatekeeper Training Results for Different Age Groups. Paul Davis, Ph.D. Introduction.
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QPR Gatekeeper Training Results for Different Age Groups Paul Davis, Ph.D.
Introduction Community gatekeeper training programs typically present information about the prevalence of suicide, suicidal warning signs and risk factors, and steps that can be taken to intervene in a suicidal crisis. Although the age of the recipients of community gatekeeper trainings can vary significantly, little is known about post-presentation changes in suicide knowledge between youth and adults recipients. More importantly, little is known about post-presentation changes in attitudes toward intervening in a suicidal crisis to help save a life.
Goal The goal of this study was to explore whether differences between youth and adults exist in self-reported measures of suicide prevention knowledge, resources, and attitudes toward intervening in a suicidal crisis after receiving a one-hour gatekeeper training in youth suicide prevention.
Methods A total of 404 (171 male, 233 female) individuals (ages 11 to 75) completed the QPR Institute (QPRI)-Washington State Youth Suicide Prevention Program (WSYSPP) Pre-Post Test in community gatekeeper trainings in Washington State during 2000-2001. The questionnaire was created by QPRI to assess post-training changes in knowledge of suicide prevention information and resources (low, medium, high), and attitudes toward intervening in suicidal crisis (not very likely, somewhat likely, and very likely) after receiving a QPRI/WSYSPP Gatekeeper Training.
Questionnaire Questionnaire items are presented in Table 1. Four groups were created to explore differences in post-presentation knowledge and attitude changes (11-14; 15-18; 19-24; 25 and older). Analyses were also completed to assess gender effects between two age groups (11-24; 25 and older).
Table 1: Knowledge Items • How would you rate your knowledge of suicide in the following areas (low, medium, high)? - Facts concerning suicide prevention - Warning signs of suicide - How to ask someone about suicide - Persuading someone to get help - How to get help for someone - Information about local resources for help with suicide * Please rate your level of understanding about suicide and suicide prevention
Table 1 Cont.: Attitude Items • How likely it would be for you to do the following things (not very likely, somewhat likely, highly likely) - Ask someone if they are suicidal - Tell a suicidal person who to talk to for help - Call a crisis line (e.g., 911) to get help for someone you believe is about to suicide - Go with a suicidal person to get help (e.g., hospital, mental health center, counselor) - If you believe someone might be thinking about suicide, would you feel that asking them about suicide is appropriate? (never, sometimes, always)
Results * Quality of Training 95% of the respondents rated the overall quality of the training in the good to excellent range (28% excellent, 42% very good, 25% good, 4% fair, and 1% poor). 94% endorsed recommending the trainings to others. * Pre-Post Changes in Knowledge and Attitudes. Repeated measures analysis showed significant self-reported post-test increases for measures of knowledge and attitudes for all four age groups.
Results Post-test Differences in Knowledge by Age Group: Results indicate that the youngest participants (11-14 year-olds) rated themselves lower than older participants in their knowledge of suicidal facts, how to ask someone about suicide, and how to persuade someone to get help.
Post-test Differences in Attitude by Age Group • Results also indicate that the youngest participants (11-14 year-olds) rated themselves lower than older participants in the likelihood that they would engage in all of the suicide prevention interventions listed for someone they knew was suicidal. In addition, 15-18 year-olds rated themselves lower than those 25 and older in the likelihood that they would ask someone if they were suicidal and go with a suicidal person to get help. Thus it appears mature adults may be better prepared to act as suicide prevention gatekeepers for youth.
Contact Information • Paul Davis, Ph.D. can be contacted through the QPR Institute. This paper was presented in a poster session at the 2001 Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology. Contact the QPR Institute for data tables.