Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter November 16, 2013

A comprehensive review of mental health gatekeeper-trainings for adolescents and young adults

  • Sarah Ketchen Lipson EMAIL logo

Abstract

Mental disorders account for a larger burden of disease among adolescents and young adults than any other class of health conditions, and most of these disorders are untreated. Gatekeeper-trainings represent a potentially powerful mechanism for increasing access to treatment. This article is a comprehensive review of 21 gatekeepertraining studies conducted in schools and other youth settings around the world. Despite the widespread use of these programs, little is known about how they actually affect the abilities and actions of trained gatekeepers and the subsequent help-seeking behaviors of adolescents and young adults. Certain outcomes (knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy) have been commonly measured whereas others (behaviors, skills, and population-level outcomes) have rarely been assessed. The studies reviewed here also suggest that positive training effects often diminish over time. The article identifies opportunities for advancing gatekeeper-training research and practice.


Corresponding author: Sarah Ketchen Lipson, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, SPH II, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA, E-mail:

References

1. Michaud CM, McKenna MT, Begg S, Tomijima N, Majmudar M, et al. The burden of disease and injury in the United States, 1996. Population Health Metrics 2006;4:11.10.1186/1478-7954-4-11Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk behavior surveillance – United States, 2011. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012;61:1–62.Search in Google Scholar

3. Shanklin S, Brener ND, Kann L, Griffin-Blake S, Ussery-Hall A, et al. Youth risk behavior surveillance: selected steps communities, United States, 2007. MMWR Surveill Summ 2008;57:1–27.Search in Google Scholar

4. Eisenberg D, Hunt J, Speer N. Mental health in American colleges and universities: variation across student subgroups and across campuses. J Nerv Mental Dis 2013;201:60–7.10.1097/NMD.0b013e31827ab077Search in Google Scholar PubMed

5. Hanlon C. State of mind: addressing mental health issues on university campuses. 2012. Available from: http://www.aucc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mental-health-state-of-mind-university-manager-article-summer-2012.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

6. Appleton S. Psychological distress and mental health problems in tertiary students (Doctor of Clinical Psychology). Brisbane: Queensland University of Technology, 2012.Search in Google Scholar

7. Stallman HM. Psychological distress in university students: a comparison with general population data. Austral Psychol 2010;45:286–94.10.1080/00050067.2010.482109Search in Google Scholar

8. Twenge JM, Gentile B, DeWall CN, Ma D, Lacefield K, et al. Birth cohort increases in psychopathology among young Americans, 1938–2007: a cross-temporal meta-analysis of the MMPI. Clin Psychol Rev 2010;30:145–54.10.1016/j.cpr.2009.10.005Search in Google Scholar PubMed

9. Blanco C, Okuda M, Wright C, Hasin D. Mental health of college students and their non-college-attending peers: results from the national epidemiologic study on alcohol and related conditions. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008;65:1429–37.10.1001/archpsyc.65.12.1429Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

10. Kohn R, Saxena S, Levav I, Saraceno B. The treatment gap in mental health care. Bull World Health Organization 2004;82:858–66.Search in Google Scholar

11. Snyder JA. The use of gatekeepers in crisis management. Bull Suicidol 1971;8:39–44.Search in Google Scholar

12. Satcher W. National strategy for suicide prevention: goals and objectives for action. Washington, DC: SAMHSA, CDC, NIH, HRSA, 2001.Search in Google Scholar

13. Cross W, Matthieu M, Lezine D, Knox K. Does a brief suicide prevention gatekeeper training program enhance observed skills? Crisis 2010;31:149–59.10.1027/0227-5910/a000014Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

14. Matthieu M, Cross W, Batres A, Flora C, Knox K. Evaluation of gatekeeper training for suicide prevention in veterans. Arch Suicide Res 2008;12:148–54.10.1080/13811110701857491Search in Google Scholar PubMed

15. Rozanov VA, Mokhovikov AN, Stiliha R. Successful model of suicide prevention in the Ukraine military environment. Crisis 2002;23:171–7.10.1027//0227-5910.23.4.171Search in Google Scholar PubMed

16. Capp K, Deane FP, Lambert G. Suicide prevention in Aboriginal communities: application of community gatekeeper training. Aust NZ J Public Health 2001;25:315–21.10.1111/j.1467-842X.2001.tb00586.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

17. Molock SD, Matlin S, Barksdale C, Puri R, Lyles J. Developing suicide prevention programs for African American youth in African American churches. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2008;38:323–33.10.1521/suli.2008.38.3.323Search in Google Scholar PubMed

18. Florio ER, Rockwood TH, Hendryx MS, Jensen JE, Raschko R, et al. A model gatekeeper program to find the at-risk elderly. J Case Manage 1996;5:106–14.Search in Google Scholar

19. Hayes AJ, Shaw JJ, Lever-Green G, Parker D, Gask L. Improvements to suicide prevention training for prison staff in England and Wales. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2008;38:708–13.10.1521/suli.2008.38.6.708Search in Google Scholar PubMed

20. Kitchener B, Jorm A. Mental health first aid training in a workplace setting: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry 2004;4:23.10.1186/1471-244X-4-23Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

21. Eisenberg D, Hunt J, Speer N. Help seeking for mental health on college campuses: review of evidence and next steps for research and practice. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2012;20:222–32.10.3109/10673229.2012.712839Search in Google Scholar PubMed

22. Katz C, Bolton SL, Katz LY, Isaak C, Tilston-Jones T, et al. A systematic review of school-based suicide prevention programs. Depress Anxiety 2013;30:1030–45.10.1002/da.22114Search in Google Scholar PubMed

23. Mann JJ, Apter A, Bertolote J, Beautrais A, Currier D, et al. Suicide prevention strategies. J Am Med Assoc 2005;294:2064–74.10.1001/jama.294.16.2064Search in Google Scholar PubMed

24. Isaac M, Elias B, Katz LY, Belik SL, Deane FP, et al. Gatekeeper training as a preventative intervention for suicide: a systematic review. Can J Psychiatry 2009;54:260–8.10.1177/070674370905400407Search in Google Scholar PubMed

25. Tierney RJ. Suicide intervention training evaluation: a preliminary report. Crisis 1994;15:69–76.Search in Google Scholar

26. Slaven J, Kisely S. The Esperance primary prevention of suicide project. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2002;36:617–21.10.1046/j.1440-1614.2002.01074.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

27. Pearce K, Rickwood D, Beaton S. Preliminary evaluation of a university-based suicide intervention project: impact on participants. Adv Mental Health 2003;21:25–35.10.5172/jamh.2.1.25Search in Google Scholar

28. Stuart C, Waalen J, Haelstromm E. Many helping hearts: an evaluation of peer gatekeeper training in suicide risk assessment. Death Stud 2003;27:321–33.10.1080/07481180302906Search in Google Scholar PubMed

29. Chagnon F, Houle J, Marcoux I, Renaud J. Control-group study of an intervention training program for youth suicide prevention. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2007;37:135–44.10.1521/suli.2007.37.2.135Search in Google Scholar PubMed

30. Ciffone J. Suicide prevention: an analysis and replication of a curriculum-based high school program. Soc Work 2007;52:41–9.10.1093/sw/52.1.41Search in Google Scholar PubMed

31. Robinson J, Gook S, Yuen HP, McGorry PD, Yung AR. Managing deliberate self-harm in young people: an evaluation of a training program developed for school welfare staff using a longitudinal research design. BMC Psychiatry 2008;8:75.10.1186/1471-244X-8-75Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

32. Wyman PA, Brown CH, Inman J, Cross W, Schmeelk-Cone K, et al. Randomized trial of a gatekeeper program for suicide prevention: 1-year impact on secondary school staff. J Consult Clin Psychol 2008;76:104–15.10.1037/0022-006X.76.1.104Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

33. Baber K, Bean G. Frameworks: a community-based approach to preventing youth suicide. J Commun Psychol 2009;37:684–96.10.1002/jcop.20324Search in Google Scholar

34. Keller DP, Schut LJA, Puddy RW, Williams L, Stephens RL, et al. Tennessee lives count: statewide gatekeeper training for youth suicide prevention. Prof Psychol Res Pract 2009;40:126–33.10.1037/a0014889Search in Google Scholar

35. Tompkins TL, Witt J. The short-term effectiveness of a suicide prevention gatekeeper training program in a college setting with residence life advisers. J Prim Prev 2009;30:131–49.10.1007/s10935-009-0171-2Search in Google Scholar PubMed

36. Freedenthal S. Adolescent help-seeking and the yellow ribbon suicide prevention program: an evaluation. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2010;40:628–39.10.1521/suli.2010.40.6.628Search in Google Scholar PubMed

37. Tompkins TL, Witt J, Abraibesh N. Does a gatekeeper suicide prevention program work in a school setting? Evaluating training outcome and moderators of effectiveness. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2010;40:506–15.10.1521/suli.2010.40.5.506Search in Google Scholar PubMed

38. Wyman PA, Brown CH, LoMurray M, Schmeelk-Cone K, Petrova M, et al. An outcome evaluation of the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program delivered by adolescent peer leaders in high schools. Am J Public Health 2010;100:1653–61.10.2105/AJPH.2009.190025Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

39. Cross WF, Seaburn D, Gibbs D, Schmeelk-Cone K, White AM, et al. Does practice make perfect? A randomized control trial of behavioral rehearsal on suicide prevention gatekeeper skills. J Prim Prev 2011;32:195–211.10.1007/s10935-011-0250-zSearch in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

40. Indelicato N, Mirsu-Paun A, Griffin W. Outcomes of a suicide prevention gatekeeper training on a university campus. J Coll Stud Dev 2011;52:350–61.10.1353/csd.2011.0036Search in Google Scholar

41. Cerel J, Padgett JH, Robbins V, Kaminer B. A state’s approach to suicide prevention awareness: gatekeeper training in Kentucky. J Evid Based Soc Work 2012;9:283–92.10.1080/15433714.2010.498672Search in Google Scholar

42. Johnson LA, Parsons ME. Adolescent suicide prevention in a school setting use of a gatekeeper program. NASN School Nurse 2012;27:312–7.10.1177/1942602X12454459Search in Google Scholar

43. Pasco S, Wallack C, Sartin R, Dayton R. The impact of experiential exercises on communication and relational skills in a suicide prevention gatekeeper-training program for college resident advisors. J Am Coll Health 2012;60:134–40.10.1080/07448481.2011.623489Search in Google Scholar

44. Howick J. Oxford centre for evidence-based medicine-levels of evidence, 2009. Available from: http://www.cebm.net/?O=1025.Search in Google Scholar

45. Rodgers P. Review of the applied suicide intervention skills training program (ASIST), 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.livingworks.net/userfiles/file/ASIST_review2010.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

46. Jackson N, Waters E. Criteria for the systematic review of health promotion and public health interventions. Health Prom Int 2005;20:367–74.10.1093/heapro/dai022Search in Google Scholar

47. Haugaard J, editor. Depression. In: Problematic behaviors during adolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education Publishers, 2001:66–86.Search in Google Scholar

48. Lipson S, Speer N, Brunwasser S, Hahn E, Eisenberg D. Gatekeeper-trainings for mental health at colleges and universities: results of a multi-campus randomized control trial. Working paper. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, 2013.Search in Google Scholar

49. Collins JM. Impact of patient suicide on clinicians. J Am Psychiatr Nurs Assoc 2003;9:159–62.10.1016/S1078-3903(03)00221-0Search in Google Scholar

50. Steinberg L, editor. Families. In: Adolescence, 6th edn. New York: McGraw Hill, 2002:125–58.Search in Google Scholar

51. Glasman LR, Albarracin D. Forming attitudes that predict future behavior: a meta-analysis of the attitude-behavior relation. Psychol Bull 2006;132:778–822.10.1037/0033-2909.132.5.778Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

52. Arthur W, Bennett W, Stanush PL, McNelly TL. Factors that influence skill decay and retention: a quantitative review and analysis. Hum Perform 1998;11:57–101.10.1207/s15327043hup1101_3Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2013-8-24
Accepted: 2013-10-12
Published Online: 2013-11-16
Published in Print: 2014-8-1

© 2014 by De Gruyter

Downloaded on 19.3.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/ijamh-2013-0320/html
Scroll to top button