Citation

Debski J, Spadafore CD, Jacob S, Poole DA, Hixson MD. Psychol. Sch. 2007; 44(2): 157-170.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/pits.20213

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Practitioner-members of the National Association of School Psychologists (N = 162) completed questionnaires regarding their suicide prevention and postvention roles, training, preparedness, and knowledge. Most were crisis team members, yet less than one-half reported graduate training in suicide risk assessment and less than one-fourth in postvention. Compared to nondoctoral-level practitioners, doctoral-trained practitioners felt better prepared to handle suicidal students. Most respondents had participated in a suicide risk assessment in the past 2 years, with few using standardized measures. Performance was moderately strong on questions about knowledge of risk factors, warning signs, and appropriate steps to respond to a suicidal student, but respondents showed less familiarity with postvention recommendations intended to discourage contagion. Training suggestions were identified. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 157–170, 2007.