Analysis of the Benefits and Costs of CalMHSA's Investment in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ashwood ◽  
Brian Briscombe ◽  
Rajeev Ramchand ◽  
Libby May ◽  
M. Burnam
2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S300-S301
Author(s):  
M. Pompili ◽  
D. Erbuto ◽  
M. Innamorati ◽  
M. Migliorati ◽  
P. Girardi

ObjectiveAssessment of suicide risk is of paramount importance for proper prevention.AimsTo examine the association between gatekeeper training and suicide-related knowledge among a diverse set of health care workers (psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, and educators) and students enrolled in medical and psychological schools who took part in the world suicide prevention day 2015 conference.MethodAmong 223 participants who completed the assessment, 204 provided complete data for analyses. Participants were administered the applied suicide intervention skills training (ASIST), a 13-item survey questionnaire to assess participants’ knowledge about suicidal behavior and comfort dealing with suicidal clients. There were 62 psychiatrists; 23 nurses, 51 psychologists, 11 educators, and 57 university students.ResultsAmong participants, 57.1% of the sample had experiences of suicide a patient (students were excluded from these analyses). Those who reported a suicide among patients (compared with others) less frequently answered that suicide risk is more alarming in older adults than youths. They also less frequently disagreed with questions asking if they had the training to deal with suicidal patients. Students more frequently answered correctly on the association between depression and suicide risk, and less frequently chose the correct answer on the seriousness of suicide intent in borderline personality disorder. Students also more frequently disagreed with questions asking on their suicide assessment skill.ConclusionsOur study highlights that differences exist when it comes to knowledge and skills related to suicide risk assessment both among health professionals and students. Our results also indicate that suicide awareness among these groups should be promoted.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Ewell Foster ◽  
Amanda N. Burnside ◽  
Patricia K. Smith ◽  
Anne C. Kramer ◽  
Allie Wills ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 676-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madelyn S. Gould ◽  
Wendi Cross ◽  
Anthony R. Pisani ◽  
Jimmie Lou Munfakh ◽  
Marjorie Kleinman

Death Studies ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jurgita Rimkevičienė ◽  
Paulius Skruibis ◽  
Greta Padroštytė

Crisis ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendi F. Cross ◽  
Anthony R. Pisani ◽  
Karen Schmeelk-Cone ◽  
Yinglin Xia ◽  
Xin Tu ◽  
...  

Background: Finding effective and efficient models to train large numbers of suicide prevention interventionists, including ’hotline’ crisis counselors, is a high priority. Train-the-trainer (TTT) models are widely used but understudied. Aims: To assess the extent to which trainers following TTT delivered the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program with fidelity, and to examine fidelity across two trainings and seven training segments. Method: We recorded and reliably rated trainer fidelity, defined as adherence to program content and competence of program delivery, for 34 newly trained ASIST trainers delivering the program to crisis center staff on two separate occasions. A total of 324 observations were coded. Trainer demographics were also collected. Results: On average, trainers delivered two-thirds of the program. Previous training was associated with lower levels of trainer adherence to the program. In all, 18% of trainers’ observations were rated as solidly competent. Trainers did not improve fidelity from their first to second training. Significantly higher fidelity was found for lectures and lower fidelity was found for interactive training activities including asking about suicide and creating a safe plan. Conclusions: We found wide variability in trainer fidelity to the ASIST program following TTT and few trainers had high levels of both adherence and competence. More research is needed to examine the cost-effectiveness of TTT models.


Crisis ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Carol Coohey ◽  
Keri Neblett ◽  
Sara Knox

Abstract. Background: The self-report measures used in evaluations of the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program have tended not to detect an improvement in a broad range of suicide counseling skills from pre- to posttraining or among trainees with better skills at pretraining. Aims: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Suicide Counseling Skills Inventory (SCSI), which included ten brief counselor–client scenarios and three counselor responses to each scenario. Method: Data were collected from several samples to develop and evaluate the SCSI. Trainee scores were subtracted from criterion expert scores to create discrepancy scores. Results: The SCSI detected an improvement in skills from pre- to posttraining across samples, including among trainees with better skills at pretraining. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were good. Limitations: The results may not generalize across different training models. Conclusion: Trainee scores were more like expert scores at posttraining. The SCSI may be useful in evaluating suicide counseling competency.


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