Referral Patterns for Youths Identified at Risk for Suicide by Trained Gatekeepers

Abstract

Gatekeepers appear to be identifying youth across settings, and those youths are being referred for services without regard for race and gender or the settings in which they are identified. Furthermore, youths that may be at highest risk may be more likely to receive those services.

Suicide Risk Protocols: Addressing the Needs of High Risk Youths Identified through Suicide Prevention Efforts and in Clinical Settings

“…Moreover, additional information is needed regarding the amount of time that generally elapses between when a youth is identified in a suicide prevention program and when he or she receives an evaluation or referral, and to what extent these evaluations, interventions, and/or follow‐ups occur on‐site, as opposed to having the youths sent elsewhere for evaluation and treatment. For example, as part of the cross‐site evaluation of the Garrett Lee Smith suicide prevention programs, the Early Identification, Referral and Follow‐up (EIRF) survey is being used to help track the extent to which gatekeeper training programs result in early identification, referrals for service, and actual services received (Rodi, Godoy‐Garraza, Walrath, Stephens, Condron, & McKeon, ). Further study of the implementation of these evaluation tools will provide valuable information to guide future suicide prevention efforts.…”

Why an alternative to suicide prevention gatekeeper training is needed for rural Indigenous communities: presenting an empowering community storytelling approach

“…Evidence from a recent review of gatekeeper referral patterns for youth identified as at risk for suicide seems to bear this out. Specifically, a review of referral patterns among those who recently participated in a gatekeeper training program suggested that in the large majority (73%) of cases, youth who were identified as at risk for suicide were referred for a mental health assessment (Rodi et al, 2012). Our concern is that standardized gatekeeper training programs appear to place minimal emphasis on exploring context-specific, collaboratively generated solutions that are in keeping with young peoples' cultural and/or spiritual preferences.…”

“…In the United States, the majority of federally funded youth suicide prevention programs rely on gatekeeper training as a key strategy (Macro International, 2010;Rodi et al, 2012). This approach is designed to encourage early identification and referral of potentially suicidal youth to mental health services (Evans & Price, 2013;Rodi et al, 2012).…”

“…This approach is designed to encourage early identification and referral of potentially suicidal youth to mental health services (Evans & Price, 2013;Rodi et al, 2012). Community gatekeepers include teachers, youth workers, coaches, and others who have regular, typically 'non-clinical contact' with youth.…”

Suicide prevention gatekeeper training in the Netherlands improves gatekeepers’ knowledge of suicide prevention and their confidence to discuss suicidality, an observational study

“…In most studies, knowledge improvement is a convincing outcome of the gatekeeper training [ 16 , 24 – 29 ] as well as improved self-efficacy [ 25 , 28 , 30 , 31 ] and confidence to act when in contact with a suicidal person [ 16 , 24 , 27 , 32 ]. Furthermore, gatekeeper training seems beneficial in referring youth to appropriate services, especially within school-based settings [ 33 , 34 ]. The improved self-efficacy found in Chauliacs controlled study resulted in significantly more referrals to psychologists [ 24 ].…”