Effects of the Mental Health First Aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluation
Abstract Background Suicide is a significant concern in Australia and globally. There is a strong argument for training community gatekeepers in how to recognise and support suicidal people in their social network. One such training course is the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person cours...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2021-04-01
|
Series: | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-021-00459-x |
id |
doaj-ce1a23add64240a7ac4234871c9ae767 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-ce1a23add64240a7ac4234871c9ae7672021-04-25T11:18:32ZengBMCInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems1752-44582021-04-0115111210.1186/s13033-021-00459-xEffects of the Mental Health First Aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluationKathy S. Bond0Fairlie A. Cottrill1Andrew Mackinnon2Amy J. Morgan3Claire M. Kelly4Greg Armstrong5Betty A. Kitchener6Nicola J. Reavley7Anthony F. Jorm8Mental Health First Aid AustraliaMental Health First Aid AustraliaCentre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of MelbourneCentre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of MelbourneMental Health First Aid AustraliaNossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of MelbourneKitchener ConsultingCentre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of MelbourneCentre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of MelbourneAbstract Background Suicide is a significant concern in Australia and globally. There is a strong argument for training community gatekeepers in how to recognise and support suicidal people in their social network. One such training course is the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person course. This course was developed using suicide prevention best practice guidelines based on expert opinion (determined using the Delphi Method). Methods We evaluated the impact of attending the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person course on suicide literacy and stigma, confidence in and quality of intended and actual helping behaviours towards a person who is suicidal, and course satisfaction. Surveys were administered before and immediately after the course, and at 6-month follow-up. Data were analysed to yield descriptive statistics (percentages, means, standard deviations), with linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models being used to test the statistical significance of changes over occasions of measurement. Results We recruited 284 participants from workplaces and general community networks. The mean age was 41 years and 74% were female. 85% of people undertook the course as part of professional development, and almost half (44%) did the course because they had contact with a suicidal person. The majority (59%) of participants had previous mental health and suicide prevention training. The majority of participants held knowledge (suicide literacy) before undertaking the course. The major effect of training was to strengthen this knowledge. There was a significant improvement from pre-course (M = 1.79, SD 0.56) to post-course (M = 1.48, SD 0.82, p < 0.0001), which was maintained at follow-up (M = 1.51, SD 0.49, p < 0.0001). Confidence in gatekeeper skills significantly improved after the course and at follow-up (M = 3.15, SD 0.95 before the course to M = 4.02, SD 0.68 afterward and 3.87, SD 0.77 at follow-up, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). The quality of intended helping behaviours significantly improved from pre-course (intended actions M = 4.28, SD 0.58) and to post-course (M = 4.70, SD 0.50, p < 0.0001) and were maintained at follow-up (M = 4.64, SD 0.41, p < 0.0001). There was significant improvement in some of the actions taken by participants to help a suicidal person from pre-course to post-course (e.g. asking about suicidal thoughts and plan, contacting emergency services). The course was highly acceptable to participants. Conclusion These results indicate that this course is an acceptable intervention that delivers a broad spectrum of beneficial outcomes to community and workplace gatekeepers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-021-00459-xSuicide preventionSuicidal thoughts and behavioursMental Health First AidGatekeeper trainingPublic interventions |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kathy S. Bond Fairlie A. Cottrill Andrew Mackinnon Amy J. Morgan Claire M. Kelly Greg Armstrong Betty A. Kitchener Nicola J. Reavley Anthony F. Jorm |
spellingShingle |
Kathy S. Bond Fairlie A. Cottrill Andrew Mackinnon Amy J. Morgan Claire M. Kelly Greg Armstrong Betty A. Kitchener Nicola J. Reavley Anthony F. Jorm Effects of the Mental Health First Aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluation International Journal of Mental Health Systems Suicide prevention Suicidal thoughts and behaviours Mental Health First Aid Gatekeeper training Public interventions |
author_facet |
Kathy S. Bond Fairlie A. Cottrill Andrew Mackinnon Amy J. Morgan Claire M. Kelly Greg Armstrong Betty A. Kitchener Nicola J. Reavley Anthony F. Jorm |
author_sort |
Kathy S. Bond |
title |
Effects of the Mental Health First Aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluation |
title_short |
Effects of the Mental Health First Aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluation |
title_full |
Effects of the Mental Health First Aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluation |
title_fullStr |
Effects of the Mental Health First Aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of the Mental Health First Aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluation |
title_sort |
effects of the mental health first aid for the suicidal person course on beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence to help, and intended and actual helping actions: an evaluation |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
issn |
1752-4458 |
publishDate |
2021-04-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Suicide is a significant concern in Australia and globally. There is a strong argument for training community gatekeepers in how to recognise and support suicidal people in their social network. One such training course is the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person course. This course was developed using suicide prevention best practice guidelines based on expert opinion (determined using the Delphi Method). Methods We evaluated the impact of attending the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person course on suicide literacy and stigma, confidence in and quality of intended and actual helping behaviours towards a person who is suicidal, and course satisfaction. Surveys were administered before and immediately after the course, and at 6-month follow-up. Data were analysed to yield descriptive statistics (percentages, means, standard deviations), with linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models being used to test the statistical significance of changes over occasions of measurement. Results We recruited 284 participants from workplaces and general community networks. The mean age was 41 years and 74% were female. 85% of people undertook the course as part of professional development, and almost half (44%) did the course because they had contact with a suicidal person. The majority (59%) of participants had previous mental health and suicide prevention training. The majority of participants held knowledge (suicide literacy) before undertaking the course. The major effect of training was to strengthen this knowledge. There was a significant improvement from pre-course (M = 1.79, SD 0.56) to post-course (M = 1.48, SD 0.82, p < 0.0001), which was maintained at follow-up (M = 1.51, SD 0.49, p < 0.0001). Confidence in gatekeeper skills significantly improved after the course and at follow-up (M = 3.15, SD 0.95 before the course to M = 4.02, SD 0.68 afterward and 3.87, SD 0.77 at follow-up, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). The quality of intended helping behaviours significantly improved from pre-course (intended actions M = 4.28, SD 0.58) and to post-course (M = 4.70, SD 0.50, p < 0.0001) and were maintained at follow-up (M = 4.64, SD 0.41, p < 0.0001). There was significant improvement in some of the actions taken by participants to help a suicidal person from pre-course to post-course (e.g. asking about suicidal thoughts and plan, contacting emergency services). The course was highly acceptable to participants. Conclusion These results indicate that this course is an acceptable intervention that delivers a broad spectrum of beneficial outcomes to community and workplace gatekeepers. |
topic |
Suicide prevention Suicidal thoughts and behaviours Mental Health First Aid Gatekeeper training Public interventions |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-021-00459-x |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT kathysbond effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation AT fairlieacottrill effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation AT andrewmackinnon effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation AT amyjmorgan effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation AT clairemkelly effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation AT gregarmstrong effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation AT bettyakitchener effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation AT nicolajreavley effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation AT anthonyfjorm effectsofthementalhealthfirstaidforthesuicidalpersoncourseonbeliefsaboutsuicidestigmatisingattitudesconfidencetohelpandintendedandactualhelpingactionsanevaluation |
_version_ |
1721509936982130688 |