Citation

Erps KH, Ochs S, Myers CL. Psychol. Sch. 2020; 57(6): 884-900.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/pits.22367

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As the second leading cause of death for adolescents, suicide is a major concern for school personnel. School psychologists' training in mental health makes them well-positioned to lead in suicide prevention efforts; however, studies have shown a lack of preparedness in crisis intervention and, more specifically, suicide risk assessment. This study surveyed practicing school psychologists (N = 92) to explore their perception of both their role and competency in suicide risk assessment. Suicide risk assessment was defined as a broad term pertaining to any measures taken in suicide prevention, intervention, or postvention. The majority of school psychologists reported having a primary role at the tertiary level (i.e., intervening with a student identified as needing help). Participants indicated lacking adequate graduate preparation; however, most participants were confident in their knowledge of suicide and suicide risk assessment and were comfortable identifying and intervening with a student who is suicidal. Implications for practice and directions for future research are discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

crisis prevention; education; mental health; school psychology; suicide risk assessment