ERIC Number: EJ1239063
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jan
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2578-4218
EISSN: N/A
Suicide Postvention Practices in Schools: School Psychologists' Experiences, Training, and Knowledge
O'Neill, J. Conor; Marraccini, Marisa E.; Bledsoe, Sarah E.; Knotek, Steven E.; Tabori, Alexander V.
School Psychology, v35 n1 p61-71 Jan 2020
Suicide is a leading cause of death of school-aged youth, with adolescent and young adult populations considered to be most at risk for suicide clusters and contagion effects. Suicide clusters have been documented in school districts across the United States, though the degree to which schools are prepared to provide postvention services in the wake of a suicide is presently unclear. The current study sought to ascertain school psychologists' training, experiences and access to school district protocols in general postvention, and specifically in suicide contagion effect prevention. Perceptions of suicide postvention knowledge and self-efficacy from 111 school psychologists in the state of North Carolina were assessed using the Perceived Postvention Competency Survey. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify associations between school psychologist characteristics and perceived competency. More than half of respondents reported limited knowledge, preparedness, and confidence in suicide postvention, and even lower degrees of competency in preventing suicide contagion effects. Formal training in postvention and years worked were significantly associated with both perceived knowledge and self-efficacy. Recommendations to enhance school psychologists' postvention competence are offered, and directions for future research to expand upon this preliminary work are discussed.
Descriptors: Suicide, School Psychologists, Counselor Training, Knowledge Level, Prevention, Counselor Attitudes, Self Efficacy, Competence, Correlation, Work Experience, Public Schools, Mental Health, High School Students, Middle School Students, Adolescents, Elementary School Students, Children, Crisis Intervention
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A