Universal suicide prevention in young people: An evaluation of the safe TALK program in Australian high schools

E Bailey; MJ Spittal; J Pirkis; M Gould; J Robinson

Journal article

Universal suicide prevention in young people: An evaluation of the safe TALK program in Australian high schools

E Bailey, MJ Spittal, J Pirkis, M Gould, J Robinson

Crisis | HOGREFE & HUBER PUBLISHERS | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000465

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Abstract

Background: Universal education and awareness programs in schools are a promising suicide prevention intervention but to date no research has evaluated the iatrogenic effects of such programs. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of the safeTALK program for secondary school students and determine whether it is associated with any iatrogenic effects. Method: Participants were 129 students from the three main high schools in Alice Springs who attended the safeTALK training and consented to participate in the evaluation. Participants were assessed immediately before and immediately after the training using a purpose-designed survey. Follow-up questionnaires were administered online ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Eleanor Bailey Author

Matthew Spittal Author

Jane Pirkis Author

Jo Robinson Author

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Funding Acknowledgements

This evaluation received funding from the Lifeline Research Foundation. The authors would also like to acknowledge the work of Lifeline Central Australia, who delivered the training, and the staff and students of the three participating schools. The authors declare no conflict of interest associated with this research.