High school health teachers' perceived self-efficacy in identifying students at risk for suicide

A national random sample of 228 high school health teachers completed a 45- item survey to examine their perceived self-efficacy regarding adolescent s uicide. Most respondents were female, White, and held master's degrees,Most believed it was their role to recognize students at risk for suicide, beli eved that if they did recognize students at risk it would reduce the chance s that the student would commit suicide, and believed that one of the most important things they could do would be to prevent a suicidal student from committing suicide. However, only 9% believed they could recognize a studen t at risk for suicide. High efficacy expectations scores were associated wi th working at a school that offered an inservice program on adolescent suic ide, included teaching about suicide prevention in the curriculum, and had a crisis intervention team This study suggests that reacher health educatio n programs should spend more time on developing the skills necessary to ide ntify students at risk. In addition, a comprehensive school suicide prevent ion program is strongly encouraged for all high schools.