Results of professional interventions of gatekeeper training programs for college student suicide prevention: A systematic review

Abstract

immediate prevention efforts. It is the second leading cause of death among college students aged 15-29. To this day, mental health issues decrease students' academic achievement—while less help and treatment are given. This review aims to identify the available literature regarding professional interventions for campus suicide prevention, and preferences for suicide crisis service support options among college students. Method: Data were based on Scopus, Science Direct, Wiley, and EBSCO using some keywords such as intervention, suicide prevention, and college student. This review applied Preferred Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) to analyze 15 articles extracted from the database with a specific criterion published in the last five years (2018-2022). Results: The results point out that an effective intervention to prevent suicide among college students is a gatekeeper training program. Gatekeeper training programs by providing mental health lectures and lectures, discussions, role plays, online open course modules, and messages via email or telephone involving lecturers, staff, campus security, and students provide positive results in efforts to prevent suicide. Students most frequently choose social assistance—that is, help from friends, parents, and lecturers—as well as counseling or psychiatric treatments for their mental health needs. Conclusion: Providing mental health information to gatekeepers through lectures, discussions, role-play training, online open course modules, and messages via email or telephone involving lecturers, staff, campus security, and students has provided positive results in suicide prevention efforts.

Expanding the Question–Persuade–Refer (QPR) Evidence Base: Youth Suicide Prevention among the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

“…Gatekeeper suicide prevention training has been a highly effective method for addressing youth suicide throughout professional and educational contexts. There is substantive research supporting the causal link between gatekeeper training and reduced suicide rates [22]. It is worth noting that suicide rate reductions often result from a combination of factors (i.e., training design, definitions of "gatekeepers", religious or spiritual beliefs, and systems of support).…”

“…Trainees across professions improved in suicide prevention attitudes, though law enforcement personnel saw little to no growth. School staff with low baseline pre-test indicators showed the most improvement in suicide identification behaviors, especially if the staff were already communicating with students about suicide and distress [20][21][22]. Students in higher education have also shown significant improvements in confidence and knowledge after completing QPR gatekeeper training, with a majority being very or extremely likely to intervene the next time they would see warning signs of suicide [23][24][25][26][27][28].…”