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Milbourn B, Black MH, Afsharnejad B, Snyman Z, Baker-Young E, Thompson C, McGarry S, Scott M, Clifford R, Zimmermann F, Kacic V, Hasking P, Romanos M, Bölte S, Girdler S. The "Talk-to-Me" MOOC intervention for suicide prevention and mental health education among tertiary students: Protocol of a multi-site cross-over randomised controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 112:106645. [PMID: 34861409 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mental health problems are common among tertiary education students, with concerning levels of suicide ideation frequently observed in this population. There is a need for evidence-based mental health education and suicide prevention programs designed to meet the specific needs of these students. The "Talk-to-Me" Mass Open Online Course (MOOC) is a strengths-based mental health education program underpinned by a six-phase model for managing a suicidal crisis. METHODS To evaluate the efficacy of the "Talk-to-Me" MOOC in improving student knowledge of appropriate responses to suicide crisis via a randomised control trial (RCT) comparing tertiary education health science and education students attending the program to a waitlist control group. Overall, 170 will be screened and randomly allocated to either the "Talk-to-Me" MOOC or a waitlist control group, with data collection occurring at three-time points (baseline, 10-weeks and 24-weeks from baseline) over one year. The primary outcome will be participants' knowledge and responses to suicidal statements as measured by the Suicide Intervention Response Inventory. Secondary outcomes will be knowledge of mental health and coping skills as well as the overall utility of the program. CONCLUSIONS This pragmatic RCT will demonstrate the efficacy of the "Talk-to-Me" MOOC in improving the students' ability to respond to suicidal and mental health concerns compared to the waitlist group. This design will enable rigorous evaluation of the "Talk-to-Me" MOOC, contributing to a greater understanding of the online-delivered safe-paced suicide prevention programs for tertiary students. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): #12619000630112.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Milbourn
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
| | - Melissa H Black
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
| | - Bahareh Afsharnejad
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
| | - Zelma Snyman
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
| | - Ellie Baker-Young
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Craig Thompson
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
| | - Sarah McGarry
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
| | - Melissa Scott
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
| | - Rhonda Clifford
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
| | - Frank Zimmermann
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Klinikum Aschaffenburg Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Germany
| | - Viktor Kacic
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Klinikum Aschaffenburg Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Germany.
| | | | - Marcel Romanos
- University Hospital Würzburg, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Sven Bölte
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Sonya Girdler
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
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Black MH, Scott M, Baker-Young E, Thompson C, McGarry S, Hayden-Evans M, Snyman Z, Zimmermann F, Kacic V, Falkmer T, Romanos M, Bölte S, Girdler S, Milbourn B. Preventing suicide in post-secondary students: a scoping review of suicide prevention programs. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021; 32:735-771. [PMID: 34373993 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-021-01858-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Suicide among students enrolled in post-secondary education, including university or college, is a major public health concern. Previous research has examined the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs for this population. However, the effective elements of these interventions remain unknown. This study reviewed the literature on suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students, exploring and identifying those elements likely contributing to their effectiveness. A scoping review process was undertaken exploring suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students. Methodological quality of the articles was assessed, and content analysis was used to explore the programs and their effective elements. Twenty seven articles were included in this review, covering a variety of approaches. Gatekeeper training programs were the most common type of suicide prevention program. Programs for post-secondary students may be effective in improving student rates of engagement with mental health services and were associated with greater knowledge, and help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, and gatekeeper-related outcomes. While evidence was found supporting the effectiveness of some interventions such as gatekeeper programs to influence suicide-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, further and more rigorous research surrounding suicide prevention programs for post-secondary students is required, with a particular emphasis on student outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa H Black
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.
| | - Melissa Scott
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Elliot Baker-Young
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Craig Thompson
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Sarah McGarry
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Maya Hayden-Evans
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Zelma Snyman
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Frank Zimmermann
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.,Klinikum Aschaffenburg Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Aschaffenburg, Germany
| | - Viktor Kacic
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.,Klinikum Aschaffenburg Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Aschaffenburg, Germany
| | - Torbjorn Falkmer
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.,Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Linkoping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marcel Romanos
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sven Bölte
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonya Girdler
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.,School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Benjamin Milbourn
- School of Allied Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
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