J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2014 Jan;53(1):8-14. 10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.1.8.

Suicide Prevention Program in Schools : Teacher's Perception of Benefits and Barriers

• Kwon H
• Kim R
• Roh BR
• Seo E
• Hong HJ
• Kweon YS

• KMID: 1964064
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.1.8

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to identify the level of awareness regarding school-based suicide prevention programs in teachers who were in charge of the suicide prevention project, and to derive plans for future improvement.
METHODS
A total of 582 teachers working in elementary, middle, and high schools across the country participated in this study. For the study, school-based suicide prevention programs were divided into four programs : curriculum-based program, staff in-service training, screening, and postvention ; the teachers' opinions regarding each program were then gathered by conduct of an online survey.
RESULTS
The results indicated that participants chose the curriculum-based program as the most easily implementable program (65.6%), and postvention as the most difficult program to implement (52.9%). The curriculum-based program was implementable due to availability of procedure. Evasion of legal responsibility was significantly greater in postvention, making the program more desirable. Barriers to effective implementation include students' and parents' resistance to screening as well as time constraints in staff in-service training.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that a variety of preceding conditions must necessarily be prepared for successful implementation of each type of suicide prevention program. Policy implications and future directions are then discussed.

Keyword

Suicide prevention; School; Adolescent suicide

MeSH Terms

Humans
Mass Screening
Suicide*

Figure

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  Figure 1 Reasons to choose to implement in each specific suicide prevention program.

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  Figure 2 Reasons not to choose to implement in each specific prevention program.

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