Perspectives and Appropriateness of Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training for MSW Students

• Published in: Social work in mental health Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 117 - 131
• Main Authors: Sharpe, Tanya L., Jacobson Frey, Jodi, Osteen, Philip J., Bernes, Sarah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Binghamton, NY Routledge 04.03.2014; Haworth Press
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Education; gatekeeper training; Graduate Students; Medical sciences; Mental Health Services; Placement; Postgraduate students; Prevention; Preventive programmes; Professional training; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Social work; Social Work Education; social work students; Social Workers; Suicide; suicide prevention; Training; Treatments; Warnings; Human; Prevention; Treatment; social work students; Social work; Social worker; gatekeeper training; suicide prevention; Occupational role; Suicide; Occupational training
• ISSN: 1533-2985; 1533-2993
• DOI: 10.1080/15332985.2013.848831

As the largest provider group of outpatient mental health services, social workers are at the forefront of suicide prevention, yet lack formal education to recognize and respond to client suicide risk. The Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR; Quinnett, 1995) gatekeeper training teaches basic suicide prevention skills, focusing on suicide risk factors, warning signs, and response. Eight advanced MSW students, who completed the QPR training, participated in a face-to-face interview to share perspectives of the training and how they applied skills learned within their social work field placement. Study results provide crucial information about suicide prevention education for social workers.