REDUCING SUICIDE POTENTIAL AMONG HIGH-RISK YOUTH - TESTS OF A SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAM

This study tested the efficacy of a school-based prevention program fo r reducing suicide potential among high-risk youth. A sample of 105 yo uth at suicide risk participated in a three-group, repeated-measures, intervention study. Participants in (1) an assessment plus 1-semester experimental program, (2) an assessment plus 2-semester experimental p rogram, and (3) an assessment-only group were compared, using data fro m preintervention, 5-month, and 10-month follow-up assessments. All gr oups showed decreased suicide risk behaviors, depression, hopelessness , stress, and anger; all groups also reported increased self-esteem an d network social support. Increased personal control was observed only in the experimental groups, and not in the assessment-only control gr oup. The potential efficacy of the experimental school-based preventio n program was demonstrated. The necessary and sufficient strategies fo r suicide prevention, however, need further study as the assessment-on ly group, who received limited prevention elements, showed improvement s similar to those of the experimental groups.