Citation

Matthieu MM, Cross WF, Batres AR, Flora CM, Knox KL. Arch. Suicide Res. 2008; 12(2): 148-154.

Affiliation

Washington University in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Center for Mental Health Services Research, St. Louis, MO.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811110701857491

PMID

18340597

Abstract

Clinical providers and "front line" nonclinical staff who work with veterans, families, and communities are natural gatekeepers to identify and to refer veterans at risk for suicide. A national cohort (n = 602) of community based counseling center staff from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) participated in an evaluation of a brief standardized gatekeeper training program and a scripted behavioral rehearsal practice session. A significant difference in knowledge and self efficacy was observed from pre to post (p < .0001) with the nonclinicians showing larger effect sizes for knowledge (0.96 vs. 0.42) and self efficacy (0.89 vs. 0.41). Gatekeeper training for suicide prevention shows promise for increasing the capacity of VA staff to work with at risk veterans.

Language: en