Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions of their Role in Suicide Prevention and Intervention

Keywords

adolescent suicide, school-based suicide prevention, teacher training, teacher perceptions, teacher roles in suicide prevention, barriers

Abstract

Teachers are identified as frontline participants in school-based suicide prevention efforts. However, their training and roles in these efforts are often not clearly defined. Because 25 states currently mandate suicide prevention training for teachers and 14 other states encourage this training, teachers’ perceptions about their role in suicide prevention are important to consider. As such, this study assessed secondary teachers’ (N = 74) perceptions of their role in suicide prevention, barriers to participating in suicide prevention, and their perceived levels of comfort and confidence in identifying and intervening with suicidal youth. Participating teachers overwhelmingly agreed that they should have a role in suicide prevention. In comparison with untrained teachers, those with previous suicide prevention training were twice as likely to have had a suicidal student or peer of a suicidal student approach them to talk about suicide. Surprisingly, years of teaching were not correlated with teachers’ comfort and confidence in identifying and supporting suicidal youth. Overall, teachers agreed that limited training, fears of making the situation worse, and fears of legal repercussions were barriers that kept teachers from intervening with potentially suicidal students. In order to help teachers effectively perform their gatekeeper role, training efforts must consider teachers’ perceptions, address perceived barriers, and facilitate teacher–student interactions that would increase the likelihood of students coming to teachers for assistance with suicidal concerns. To help schools in providing suicide prevention training for teachers, a list of recommended resources is provided.

Original Publication Citation

Hatton, V., Heath, M. A., Gibb, G. S., Coyne, S. M., *Hudnall, G., & *Bledsoe, C. (2017). Secondary teachers’ perceptions of their role in suicide prevention and intervention. School Mental Health, 9, 97-116.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2016-01-09

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/6830

Publisher

School Mental Health

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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