Community Mental Health Provider Responses to a Competency-Based Training in Suicide Risk Assessment and Prevention

Abstract

The present study evaluates of a competency-based suicide prevention training. A sample of community mental healthcare providers took part in a suicide risk assessment and prevention training, completing pre-post measures of knowledge, competency/skill and attitudes, as well as baseline interprofessional education (IPE) socialization. Training yielded moderate-to-large improvements in suicide-related knowledge, perceived risk assessment/prevention skills, attitudes toward helping patients, and professional capacity to work with suicidal patients. Small pre-post differences were observed recognizing the need for additional training. IPE socialization moderated impacts on professional capacity. This study offers support for the promising impacts of competency-based and IPE-specific training.

An exploration into suicide prevention initiatives for mental health nurses: A systematic literature review

“…The small sample size and limited assessments in mental health settings may limit the generalization of these findings (La Guardia et al . 2019). Similar results using competency‐based assessments also occurred in Pisani et al .…”

“…Other studies adopted the use of competency‐based assessments to evaluate the efficacy of the suicide prevention training (La Guardia et al . 2019; Pisani et al . 2012).…”

“…The use of competency-based assessments to evaluate the efficacy of suicide prevention training has also been implemented. La Guardia et al (2019) reported moderate to large improvements in suicide-related knowledge, perceived risk assessment/prevention skills, attitudes towards helping patients, and overall perceived ability to work with suicidal patients from their competency-based suicide prevention training. The small sample size and limited assessments in mental health settings may limit the generalization of these findings (La Guardia et al 2019).…”

“…La Guardia et al (2019) reported moderate to large improvements in suicide-related knowledge, perceived risk assessment/prevention skills, attitudes towards helping patients, and overall perceived ability to work with suicidal patients from their competency-based suicide prevention training. The small sample size and limited assessments in mental health settings may limit the generalization of these findings (La Guardia et al 2019). Similar results using competency-based assessments also occurred in Pisani et al (2012), with participants reporting and demonstrating increased knowledge, confidence, and skill in risk formulation from a 3-hour workshop (Pisani et al 2012).…”

Assessing knowledge of suicide: a systematic review of available instruments

“…Responsiveness was tested in only a few scales: scores at the GK, Suicide Behaviour Attitude Questionnaire (SBAQ) and PFC-KT significantly increased in participants of educational or training programs (Bean and Baber, 2011;Botega et al, 2007;La Guardia et al, 2019;Mackesy-Amiti et al, 1996); similarly, studies that used the SIQ or the SKT to measure the pre-test / post-test difference in participants who received a workshop or awareness program as compared to a control group evidenced significant interactions between the effect of assessment time and the effect of group (Spirito et al, 1988;Tierney, 1994).…”