Development of a Suicide Prevention Life Gatekeeper Training Program in China: A Delphi study

Abstract

Introduction: Youth suicide has been a pressing public mental health concern in China, yet there is a lack of localised gatekeeper intervention programs developed for Chinese schools. Life Gatekeeper was the first systematically developed gatekeeper program which aimed to equip teachers and parents with knowledge, skills, and ability to identify and intervene students at high risk of suicide. This study aimed to achieve expert consensus on the content of this program. Methods: The Delphi method was used to elicit consensus on statements essential to include in the training program. In the form of scoring existing statements and responding to open-ended questions, experts have the opportunity to evaluate the content, delivery form, feasibility, and overall feeling of the initial training program. Two Delphi rounds were conducted among Chinese panel members with diversified professional backgrounds in suicide research and practice. Statements were accepted for inclusion in the adjusted training program if they were endorsed by at least 80% of the panel. Results: Consensus was achieved on 201 statements out of 207 statements for inclusion in the adapted guidelines for the gatekeeper programme, with 151 from the original questionnaire, and 50 generated from the comments of the panel members. These endorsed statements were used to develop the Life Gatekeeper training program. Conclusion: This Delphi study provided an evidence base in developing of the first gatekeeper training program in China. We hope that the current study could pave the way for more evidence based suicide prevention programs in China. Further study is warranted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Life Gatekeeper training program.