ACT on Facts: Making Educators Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention

How to access the program?

Visit https://sptsuniversity.org/ to access the training.

What is the program? 

The training was developed by national suicide prevention expert and Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS) Clinical Director, Maureen Underwood, LCSW. ACT on Facts addresses the responsibilities of educators in the process of identification and referral of potentially suicidal youth and focuses on practical realities and challenges inherent in the school setting through various training formats. The training highlights four categories of youth who may be at elevated risk for suicide: youth involved in bullying, who self-identify as LGBTQ, identified as gifted and talented, and/or students returning to school after a suicide attempt. Training includes optional content that addresses suicide in elementary and middle schools with an additional module that includes the stories of individual survivors of suicide loss as well as a high school that experienced an episode of contagion 

Who is the program for? 

ACT on Facts is intended for teachers, counselors, and administrators.  

How is this program implemented? 

The program consists of a two-hour online interactive training program, designed in a series of modules with a focus on telling stories to highlight the importance of emphasizing resilience and protective factors after a loss event. The training is intended to help educators and school staff understand their role as “Trusted Adults”.  

What is the practice that is supported? 

A gatekeeper is someone who can recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. Gatekeeper training teaches people to identify individuals who are showing warning signs of suicide risks and help these individuals get the mental health services they need. Gatekeeper training improves the skills, confidence, and willingness to help those in distress. Gatekeeper trainings are for public health information purposes and are not intended to take the place of assessments, screening, diagnoses, or treatment of any mental health issues.   

What outcomes does the program produce? 

• Increase in awareness of suicide warning signs 
• Increase in awareness of resources for help related to suicide risk 
• Increase in student referrals for suicide concern 
• Improve skills, knowledge, and attitudes for suicide prevention 

What is the evidence? 

Condron, Susan. (2015) Identifying and Referring Youths at Risk for Suicide Following Participation in School‐Based Gatekeeper Training—Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior—Wiley Online Library. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/sltb.12142 

Using survey data of over 136,000 individuals (teachers, service providers, parents/caregivers) collected from school-based gatekeeper trainings, this study examined the effectiveness of the trainings to increase knowledge and skills to identify youths at risk of suicide. The results showed that while the knowledge of those in gatekeeper trainings increased, the number of referrals of at-risks youth depended on length of training and time spent with the youth. Additionally, between half and two-thirds of youth identified by trainees were receiving services at the 3 month follow up of training.  

Reis, C., & Cornell, D. (2008). An Evaluation of Suicide Gatekeeper Training for School Counselors and Teachers. Professional School Counseling, 11(6), 2156759X0801100605. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X0801100605 

In this study, researchers evaluated the impact of gatekeeper trainings on suicide knowledge and prevention practices among teachers and counselors. Survey results were compared between a group that received gatekeeper training and a control group not receiving training. Results showed that difference in the number of student referrals made between teachers and counselors was smaller in the trainee group than the control group. This study also showed that school staff attending gatekeeper training reported more knowledge of suicide risks factors. 

What are the costs associated with implementing this program? 

The free ACT on Facts: Making Educators Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention online training is available on the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide website. 

What resources are helpful for understanding this program? 

• SPTS website: https://sptsusa.org/about-us/ 

Any training or interventions from this repository should be used in accordance with established staff development standards and adopted professional development policies of the Local Education Agency (LEA) per §21.451 and §21.4515 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) and the LEA’s suicide prevention policies and procedures pursuant to §38.351. While this training satisfies the statutory training requirements of §21.451(d)(3)(A), §21.451 (d-1)(1), §21.451 (d-2) and §38.351, it is best practice for staff to receive ongoing training which may include job embedded professional development, coaching opportunities and annual training. 

Rating: Research-Informed 

Secondary components: Grief and Trauma- Informed practices; Early Mental Health Prevention and Intervention; Positive, Safe, and Supportive School Climates