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Preventing suicide in post-secondary students: a scoping review of suicide prevention programs

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Abstract

Suicide among students enrolled in post-secondary education, including university or college, is a major public health concern. Previous research has examined the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs for this population. However, the effective elements of these interventions remain unknown. This study reviewed the literature on suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students, exploring and identifying those elements likely contributing to their effectiveness. A scoping review process was undertaken exploring suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students. Methodological quality of the articles was assessed, and content analysis was used to explore the programs and their effective elements. Twenty seven articles were included in this review, covering a variety of approaches. Gatekeeper training programs were the most common type of suicide prevention program. Programs for post-secondary students may be effective in improving student rates of engagement with mental health services and were associated with greater knowledge, and help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, and gatekeeper-related outcomes. While evidence was found supporting the effectiveness of some interventions such as gatekeeper programs to influence suicide-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, further and more rigorous research surrounding suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students is required, with a particular emphasis on student outcomes.

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As this is a scoping review, no data are available.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Stephanie Hickey, Sarah Jones, Megan Booyse, and Caitlyn Stine from Curtin University for their contribution to this project. The authors would also like to acknowledge Anthia Siutis and Sarah Hess from Klinikum Aschaffenburg Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the following funding. Dr. Black, Dr. Thompson, Dr. Kacic, Mr. Zimmermann, Professor Girdler and Dr. Milbourn received funding from Healthway (Grant No. 33212). Dr. Milbourn and Professor Girdler received funding from the Australian New Zealand Allied Health Professional Educator organisation (ANZAHPE) and The German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD; Grant No. 57511161).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    Melissa H. Black, Melissa Scott, Elliot Baker-Young, Craig Thompson, Sarah McGarry, Maya Hayden-Evans, Zelma Snyman, Frank Zimmermann, Viktor Kacic, Torbjorn Falkmer, Sven Bölte, Sonya Girdler & Benjamin Milbourn

  2. Klinikum Aschaffenburg Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Aschaffenburg, Germany

    Frank Zimmermann & Viktor Kacic

  3. Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Linkoping University, Linköping, Sweden

    Torbjorn Falkmer

  4. Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Torbjorn Falkmer

  5. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Marcel Romanos

  6. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden

    Sven Bölte & Sonya Girdler

  7. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden

    Sven Bölte

  8. School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia

    Sonya Girdler

Authors
  1. Melissa H. Black
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  2. Melissa Scott
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  3. Elliot Baker-Young
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  4. Craig Thompson
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  5. Sarah McGarry
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  8. Frank Zimmermann
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  9. Viktor Kacic
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  10. Torbjorn Falkmer
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  11. Marcel Romanos
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  12. Sven Bölte
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  13. Sonya Girdler
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  14. Benjamin Milbourn
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Contributions

MB, MS, CT, SM, FZ, VK, SG, SB and BM conceptualized the manuscript. MB conducted the searches. Data were extracted by MB, MS, EBY, SM, MHE, ZS, FZ, VK and BM synthesis of results and initial drafting of the manuscript was conducted by MB. Initial drafting of the manuscript was conducted by MB with BM, MS, and SG. All authors contributed to interpretation of results and writing of the manuscript. All authors have approved the final version of this work and are accountable for its accuracy and integrity.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Melissa H. Black.

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Conflict of interest

Professor Bölte reports personal fees from Medice, Roche, Prima Psychiatry, Hogrefe, grants from Swedish Research Council, ALF, Hjärnfonden, Clas Groschinsky, Promobilia, Region Stockholm, FORTE, and Trygg Hansa outside this work. No other conflicts of interest are reported.

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The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

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Black, M.H., Scott, M., Baker-Young, E. et al. Preventing suicide in post-secondary students: a scoping review of suicide prevention programs. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 32, 735–771 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-021-01858-8

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