School Suicide Prevention: A Breadth and Depth Perspective

The present study provides a breadth and depth perspective of the current landscape for school suicide prevention (SSP). Despite an increase in SSP programming, practices, and policy, there remains a gap in understanding of how widely these activities are disseminated and implemented. Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge around the adoption of recommended programs and practices once disseminated to school practitioners, along with what SSP-related barriers, successes, and goals that were identified and prioritized by schools. To address these gaps, a sequential mixed-methodology design comprised of two studies was conducted with a breadth-focused statewide needs assessment survey (i.e., Study 1), and a depth-focused multi-method pilot (i.e., Study 2). Findings from Study 1 indicate that SSP activity (i.e., evidence-based programs [EBPs] and recommended practices implementation) increases slightly from elementary, to middle, and up through high school; with statistically significant differences in implementation occurring for three EBPs (i.e., Mental Health First Aid [MHFA], RESPONSE, and Connect Postvention) and two recommended practices (i.e., SSP Curriculum and Guest Speakers) at the school level (i.e., elementary, middle, and high school). Additional Study 1 findings are discussed in regard to SSP activity differences across region classification and the association between SSP activity and school staff comfort level on the topic of suicide prevention. Findings from Study 2 identified clear categories and themes for SSP challenges and barriers, current successes, and prioritized goals. Study 2 also explored what key features of SSP were already being implemented within an MTSS structure. Interpretation of Study 1 and 2 findings, along with limitations, implications for practice and policy, and future research directions are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Oregon

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Rochelle, Jonathan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Seeley, John

• Breadth and Depth
• MTSS
• Needs assessment
• Research-practice partnership
• School suicide prevention

Statement dc:rights

• All Rights Reserved.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1794/29141

OAI record oai:identifier

https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Ascholarsbank.uoregon.edu%3A1794%2F29141