The Impact of Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention on University Resident Assistants

Taub, Deborah J.; Servaty‐Seib, Heather L.; Miles, Nathan; Lee, Ji-Yeon; Morris, Carrie A. Wachter; Prieto-Welch, Susan L.; Werden, Donald

doi:10.1002/j.2161-1882.2013.00027.x

Cited by 30 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Census, 2010). Although they have several roles, RAs are expected to serve as first-responders when acute or chronic mental health problems and academic problems appear in students living in residence halls (Blimling, 2003; Elleven, Allen, & Wircenski, 2001; Sharkin, Plageman, & Mangold, 2003; Taub et al, 2013). The vast majority of undergraduate RAs hold these positions for only one or two academic years.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the annual turnover in the RA workforce is substantial, making RA training and supervision an ongoing task in residence life/housing departments. At most campuses, RA training programs devote minimal time to alcohol, drug, and mental health first-aid, including teaching RAs effective referral skills for these problems (Taub & Servaty-Seib, 2011; Taub et al, 2013). Moreover, the first-aid training conducted by departments of residence life/housing is locally devised and not evidence-informed (Owens, 2011; Taub & Servaty-Seib, 2011; Taub et al, 2013).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At most campuses, RA training programs devote minimal time to alcohol, drug, and mental health first-aid, including teaching RAs effective referral skills for these problems (Taub & Servaty-Seib, 2011; Taub et al, 2013). Moreover, the first-aid training conducted by departments of residence life/housing is locally devised and not evidence-informed (Owens, 2011; Taub & Servaty-Seib, 2011; Taub et al, 2013). Although there are no available data, more RA training time may focus on helping students with academic problems than with alcohol, drug, and mental health first-aid (Reingle, Thombs, Osborn, Saffian, & Oltersdorf, 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To our knowledge, this is only the second study (following Taub et al, 2013) to develop an evidence-based approach to training RAs in these first-aid practices. The primary intervention goal was to increase the number of first-aid efforts carried out by RAs for alcohol, other drug, mental health, and academic problems in their living units during one academic year.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Resident Assistant Training Program for Increasing Alcohol, Other Drug, and Mental Health First-Aid Efforts

Thombs

González²,

Osborn

et al. 2014

Prev Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In college and university residence halls, resident assistants (RAs) are expected to serve as first-aid providers to students who may have alcohol, other drug, mental health, and academic problems. Despite this responsibility, evidence-based, first-aid programs have not been developed and tested for the RA workforce. The current study examined effects of an investigational first-aid program designed specifically for RAs. The online Peer Hero Training program is a novel approach to RA training in its use of interactive video dramatizations of incidents involving substance-using or distressed residents. A 9-month randomized trial conducted on 8 U.S. campuses compared RAs who participated in the Peer Hero Training program to RAs who received training-as-usual. Participation in the Peer Hero Training program significantly increased RA first-aid efforts for residential students who may have had alcohol, other drug, mental health, or academic problems six months after baseline. Compared to those in the training-as-usual condition, RAs in the Peer Hero Training program made more than 10 times as many first-aid efforts for possible alcohol problems, almost 14 times the number of first-aid efforts for possible drug use, almost 3 times the number of first-aid efforts for possible mental health problems, and 3 times the number of first-aid efforts for academic problems. There was no evidence that measured RA attitudes mediated the effects of the intervention. Results of this preliminary evaluation trial suggest that online training using interactive video dramatizations is a viable approach to strengthening RAs’ ability to provide alcohol, other drug, and mental health first-aid to undergraduates.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Resident Assistant Training Program for Increasing Alcohol, Other Drug, and Mental Health First-Aid Efforts

Thombs

González²,

Osborn

et al. 2014

Prev Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A number of investigators have demonstrated the benefits of MHL‐based interventions and peer‐to‐peer mental health support among 4‐year university students (Taub et al, 2013; White et al, 2009). White et al (2009) found that university students who participated in a peer‐health education program reported less alcohol consumption as well as increases in weight management behaviors over the first 3 years of college.…”

Section: Mental Distress Among Community College Studentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health Literacy and Peer‐to‐Peer Counseling Referrals Among Community College Students

Kalkbrenner

Sink

Smith

2020

Jour of Counseling & Develop

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mental health literacy (MHL) has utility for promoting peer‐to‐peer referrals to mental health support services among university students. However, there is a gap in the extant literature about the potential usefulness of MHL for supporting the mental health of community college students, a population facing a number of mental health conditions. The authors examined the construct validity and the utility of 3 dimensions of MHL as predictors of peer‐to‐peer referrals to the counseling center among community college students. Results of confirmatory factor analyses supported the dimensionality of the instrumentation and a hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that MHL was a significant positive predictor of peer‐to‐peer referrals to the counseling center. Implications for counseling practice and future research are discussed.

show abstract

Peer‐based interventions targeting suicide prevention: A scoping review

Bowersox

Jagusch

Garlick

et al. 2021

American J of Comm Psychol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Peers of individuals at risk for suicide may be able to play important roles in suicide prevention. The aim of the current study is to conduct a scoping review to characterize the breadth of peer‐delivered suicide prevention services and their outcomes to inform future service delivery and research. Articles were selected based on search terms related to peers, suicide, or crisis. After reviews of identified abstracts (N = 2681), selected full‐text articles (N = 286), and additional references (N = 62), a total of 84 articles were retained for the final review sample. Types of suicide prevention services delivered by peers included being a gatekeeper, on‐demand crisis support, crisis support in acute care settings, and crisis or relapse prevention. Peer relationships employed in suicide prevention services included fellow laypersons; members of the same sociodemographic subgroup (e.g., racial minority), workplace, or institution (e.g., university, correctional facility); and the shared experience of having a mental condition. The majority of published studies were program descriptions or uncontrolled trials, with only three of 84 articles qualifying as randomized controlled trials. Despite a lack of methodological rigor in identified studies, peer support interventions for suicide prevention have been implemented utilizing a diverse range of peer provider types and functions. New and existing peer‐delivered suicide prevention services should incorporate more rigorous evaluation methods regarding acceptability and effectiveness.

show abstract

The Impact of Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention on University Resident Assistants

Cited by 30 publications

References 21 publications

Resident Assistant Training Program for Increasing Alcohol, Other Drug, and Mental Health First-Aid Efforts

Resident Assistant Training Program for Increasing Alcohol, Other Drug, and Mental Health First-Aid Efforts

Mental Health Literacy and Peer‐to‐Peer Counseling Referrals Among Community College Students

Peer‐based interventions targeting suicide prevention: A scoping review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About