Outcomes of a Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training on a University Campus

A university-wide suicide prevention program was implemented to provide students, faculty, and staff tools to identify, assist, and refer distressed and suicidal individuals. The study examined participant self-reports of suicide-related knowledge and prevention skills, group differences in suicide prevention knowledge and skills, group differences in confidence and comfort levels, and changes in participants' beliefs that the interventions they conducted were effective. Participants completed a questionnaire at three time points. Results showed significant increases in self-rated knowledge about suicide, suicide prevention, awareness of resources and belief in the appropriateness and likelihood they would ask someone about suicide. Implications for campus suicide prevention and education programs are discussed.