Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a training program designed to help adults working with children and adolescents identify and respond to youth who are experiencing mental health problems or ...are in crisis. YMHFA is being implemented in a number of educational, child welfare, and juvenile justice settings across the country with little evidence of its effectiveness. As part of a broader mental health program implemented in five schools in a southeastern county in the USA, YMHFA was provided to school personnel over a 2-year period. This study presents the results of a pretest/posttest evaluation of the YMHFA training. In general, results provide preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the YMHFA training. More specifically, results highlight the importance of YMHFA training for personnel who have never received mental health training/education and for those who do not have experience working with vulnerable youth populations.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Background: Mental health professionals (MHPs) often lack skills necessary to effectively manage suicide risk. Training designed to combat this deficiency tend to rely on passive techniques, despite ...research suggesting active methods may better facilitate skill development.
Aim: This study examines the effect of a role-play training on MHPs' attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control surrounding suicide risk assessment behaviors.
Methods: Two hundred and three MHPs participated in a 4.5 hour role-play training after participation in an online suicide risk assessment training. The training utilized active learning and behavioral modification strategies. MHPs completed questionnaires assessing attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and training variables.
Results: MHPs endorsed positive attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioral control in suicide risk assessment and management skills, especially in assessing/determining the severity of risk, establishing rapport, documenting risk assessment information and developing a treatment plan. Results also revealed support for the feasibility of disseminating role-play training utilizing active learning methods.
Conclusion: Factors found to be associated with participation in the role-play training are discussed. Findings may inform future development and improvement of suicide risk assessment training and practices that target risk and protective factors to effectively reduce suicide-related behavior.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Suicide safety planning is an evidence-based approach used to help individuals identify strategies to keep themselves safe during a mental health crisis. This study systematically reviewed the ...literature focused on mobile health (mHealth) suicide safety planning apps.
This study aims to evaluate the extent to which apps integrated components of the safety planning intervention (SPI), and if so, how these safety planning components were integrated into the design-based features of the apps.
Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we systematically analyzed 14 peer-reviewed studies specific to mHealth apps for suicide safety planning. We conducted an analysis of the literature to evaluate how the apps incorporated SPI components and examined similarities and differences among the apps by conducting a comparative analysis of app features. An independent review of SPI components and app features was conducted by downloading the available apps.
Most of the mHealth apps (5/7, 71%) integrated SPI components and provided customizable features that expanded upon traditional paper-based safety planning processes. App design features were categorized into 5 themes, including interactive features, individualized user experiences, interface design, guidance and training, and privacy and sharing. All apps included access to community supports and revisable safety plans. Fewer mHealth apps (3/7, 43%) included interactive features, such as associating coping strategies with specific stressors. Most studies (10/14, 71%) examined the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of the safety planning mHealth apps. Usability findings were generally positive, as users often found these apps easy to use and visually appealing. In terms of feasibility, users preferred using mHealth apps during times of crisis, but the continuous use of the apps outside of crisis situations received less support. Few studies (4/14, 29%) examined the effectiveness of mHealth apps for suicide-related outcomes. Positive shifts in attitudes and desire to live, improved coping strategies, enhanced emotional stability, and a decrease in suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors were examined in these studies.
Our study highlights the need for researchers, clinicians, and app designers to continue to work together to align evidence-based research on mHealth suicide safety planning apps with lessons learned for how to best deliver these technologies to end users. Our review brings to light mHealth suicide safety planning strategies needing further development and testing, such as lethal means guidance, collaborative safety planning, and the opportunity to embed more interactive features that leverage the advanced capabilities of technology to improve client outcomes as well as foster sustained user engagement beyond a crisis. Although preliminary evidence shows that these apps may help to mitigate suicide risk, clinical trials with larger sample sizes and more robust research designs are needed to validate their efficacy before the widespread adoption and use.
Abstract
Suicide is a major public health concern. Suicide rates have increased steadily in the U.S. and are highest among middle-aged (ages 45-64) and older (age 75+) adults. Help-seeking represents ...an important coping behavior that can mitigate suicide risk. However, research on this topic is sparse, especially among older adults. To address this gap, a systematic review of the existing literature describing help-seeking for suicide risk among middle- to old-age adults was conducted. Using PRISMA guidelines, we searched electronic databases (e.g., ProQuest, EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline) and key journals with suicide and/or gerontology focuses for peer-reviewed publications in English between 2010-2020. The search yielded 4,732 unduplicated publications. After screening articles for relevance based on titles and abstracts, 52 articles were reviewed in full text. A total of 24 articles met inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The articles reviewed included a range of topics, including prevalence of service utilization, service use prior to suicide-related behaviors, and correlates of help-seeking. Overall, prevalence of service utilization was generally low and varied by suicidal history (e.g., greater prevalence among those with a history of suicide attempt, as compared to those with suicide ideation but no attempts). The systematic review also identified key service use facilitators (e.g., higher suicide literacy, previous or current suicidality) and barriers (e.g., stigma). Results of this systematic review highlight the need for future research and tailored services to improve suicide prevention and intervention strategies for middle-aged and older adults.
Objective
The present study investigates the effectiveness of a novel, consumer‐informed, family training for youth suicide prevention.
Background
Research suggests family members play a key role in ...reducing suicide risk for their children. However, family members often do not possess the necessary knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to intervene with a suicidal youth.
Method
Family members (N = 582) participated in the It's Time to Talk About It: Family Training for Youth Suicide Prevention (ITT‐FT) and completed pretest and posttest measures. Additionally, 158 family members completed a 6‐month follow‐up evaluation.
Results
Results indicated significant improvements in knowledge, effective attitudes, perceived behavioral control, social norms, and intentions immediately after the training. Knowledge and perceived behavioral control were sustained at follow‐up. Participants identifying as Hispanic/Latinx exhibited greater decreases in stigma related to help‐seeking. Those who had a family history of mental health treatment experienced a greater increase in social norms related to other families seeking help.
Conclusion
Findings underline the importance of implementing a family‐focused program aimed at improving training outcomes such as knowledge, confidence, and intentions—key constructs associated with behavior change.
Implications
Improvement in several domains following the training highlight the critical role family members can play in reducing youth suicide risk.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, ODKLJ, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a training program developed to educate child-serving professionals on how to properly identify and respond to mental health needs among children and ...adolescents. The current study tested the utility of the training by examining the effectiveness, satisfaction, and universality across child-serving occupations. Data collected from 893 child-serving professionals was used to compare training effectiveness and training experiences across four different occupational settings (child welfare, education, support services, and the justice system). Using a pretest/posttest survey design, strong support for the effectiveness of YMHFA (i.e. knowledge, confidence, preparedness, and intentions to intervene), satisfaction with the training program, and universality of effectiveness and satisfaction across the occupational groups was found. Results highlight the utility of YMHFA across different sectors of child-serving agencies and support its sustainability.
Utilizing principles from family-driven care and community-based research, community members and researchers collaborated to uncover the experiences, perceptions, and needs of families whose children ...had been impacted by mental illness and suicide. Using a flexible and iterative process involving in-depth qualitative interviews, four themes emerged: (a) the need for greater awareness about youth suicide; (b) the need to provide clear and direct steps to obtain help for at-risk youths; (c) the need to learn how to locate and access resources to seek help and overcome barriers to care; and (d) the importance of involving and empowering families to get involved in the design and increased utilization of treatment services and suicide prevention efforts. Further thematic content analysis revealed specific content areas that served as the foundation for the creation of a family-focused guide on youth suicide prevention. Preliminary findings with community stakeholders suggest that the family guide, It’s Time to Talk About it, is a useful and motivational resource that enhances awareness on how to prevent youth suicide and how families can become more involved in treatment and advocacy efforts. This paper provides an example of how to engage and partner with community participants throughout the stages of planning, developing, implementing, and disseminating a community-based suicide prevention effort.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the physical and mental health of many. It remains unclear whether such impacts differ across diverse races or age groups, or along the course ...of the pandemic. This study assessed trends in levels of depression and anxiety symptoms among U.S. adults during COVID-19 and whether differences emerged across race and age. Data were drawn from the Understanding America Study (UAS) COVID-19 survey, a longitudinal panel survey of a nationally representative sample of over 6,000 individuals. A mixed effect linear model was conducted to assess the influence of race and age on the level of depression and anxiety over time during the pandemic, controlling for covariates such as marital status, employment status, and household income. Results indicate that greater age was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety. Additionally, trends in levels of depression and anxiety vary across races (e.g., minority populations generally reported lower or comparable levels of depression and anxiety comparing to the White). Findings further suggest significant interactions between age and race, especially among minoritized adults. Study findings underscore the importance of future research and tailored strategies to improve culturally sensitive and age-appropriate mental health services targeting diverse populations.
This study examined the roles that youth involvement and youth trainee–trainer alliance play in school mental health prevention within the context of youth suicide gatekeeper training. Measures ...included youth involvement in programming, trainee–trainer alliance, and intentions to refer at-risk youth at pre- and post-training. A moderated-mediation design was used to examine associations among these factors. Results show alliance mediating pre- and post-training referral intentions, and involvement moderating the relationship between alliance and post-training intentions. On average, trainee intentions improved from pre- to post-training, but trainees reporting high alliance endorsed higher post-training referral intentions regardless of involvement level. Low alliance resulted in lower than average post-training referral intentions, even with active involvement in programming, and those with both low alliance and involvement showed the lowest post-training referral intentions. Given these findings, fostering the youth trainee–trainer relationship may be an avenue to optimize prevention program effectiveness.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Background: Suicide risk following youth psychiatric
hospitalization is of significant concern. This study evaluated Linking
Individuals Needing Care (LINC), a theory-driven, comprehensive care
...coordination approach for youth discharged from crisis services.
Aims: To pilot LINC's potential effectiveness in
increasing service utilization and decreasing suicide risk.
Method: Participants were 460 youth patients who received
LINC for approximately 90 days following discharge from crisis services. Service
utilization, depressive symptoms, and suicide-related variables were measured at
baseline and 30, 60, and 90 days after baseline. Results:
Patients significantly increased the use of various beneficial, least
restrictive services (individual therapy, medication management, and non-mental
health supports) over the 90-day intervention. Significant decreases were
observed in depressive symptoms, suicide ideation, and engagement in
suicide-related behaviors. Limitations: Absence of a comparison
group and nonparticipating families limit causal conclusions and
generalizability. Conclusions: LINC may be a promising new
approach following inpatient hospitalization that can engage and retain youth in
services, likely resulting in improved treatment outcomes. This approach was
designed emphasizing patient engagement, suicide risk assessment and management,
safety planning, community networking, referral/linkage monitoring, coping and
motivational strategies, and linguistic/culturally responsive practices to meet
service and support needs of high-risk suicidal youth.
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CEKLJ, FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PEFLJ, UPUK
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