The Effects of the Gatekeeper Suicide-Awareness Program for Nursing Personnel

• Published in: Perspectives in psychiatric care Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 117 - 125
• Main Authors: Tsai, Wen-Pei, Lin, Long-Yau, Chang, Hui-Chin, Yu, Li-Shiuan, Chou, Ming-Chih
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.07.2011; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Continuing education; Education; Female; gatekeeper for suicide prevention; Humans; Male; Nurses; Nursing; Nursing Evaluation Research; nursing personnel; Prevention programs; Psychiatric Nursing - education; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatric-mental health nursing; Referral and Consultation; Reproducibility of Results; Studies; Suicide - prevention & control; Suicide - psychology; suicide-awareness program; Suicides & suicide attempts; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Taiwan
• ISSN: 0031-5990; 1744-6163
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2010.00278.x

PURPOSE:  This study evaluates whether a short training program can improve nurses' abilities to recognize and effectively respond to patients exhibiting suicidal behavior. DESIGN AND METHODS:  The study is a randomized controlled trial. Ninety‐eight nurses in the experimental group attended the regular monthly continuing education class and a 90‐min Gatekeeper Suicide‐Awareness Program. Ninety‐seven nurses in the control group only attended the regular monthly continuing education class. Before and after the different educational interventions, all the nurses were asked to complete a questionnaire to link demographic data and to access their awareness of suicide warning signs and their responses if encountering a potentially suicidal individual. FINDINGS:  Nurses who participated in the Gatekeeper Suicide‐Awareness Program were much more aware of suicide warning signs and more willing to refer patients for professional counseling. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:  We suggest that nursing personnel's continuing education include a training program for suicide prevention.