Adolescent suicide prevention: acceptability of school-based programs among secondary school principals

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1999 Spring;29(1):72-85.

Abstract

High school principals' acceptability ratings of three school-based programs for the prevention of adolescent suicide were examined. From a random sample of members from the 1994-1995 membership directory of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), a total of 185 (40%) respondents completed the Suicide Prevention Program Rating Profile (SPPRP), a measure designed to evaluate the acceptability of suicide prevention programs, after reading a description of a particular prevention program. Programs evaluated for their acceptability included (1) curriculum-based programs presented to students, (2) in-service presentations to school staff, and (3) student self-report screening measures. The results indicated that the curriculum-based and staff in-service programs were significantly more acceptable to principals than was the schoolwide student screening program. No significant differences between the acceptability of curriculum-based and inservice programs were found. Limitations of the study and implications for practice and research are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administrative Personnel / psychology
  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Curriculum
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Preventive Health Services / methods
  • Program Evaluation
  • Random Allocation
  • School Health Services / organization & administration
  • Schools*
  • Suicide Prevention*