Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical School Berlin, Ruedesheimer Straße 50, Berlin, 14197, Germany.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Oct 2;24(1):2693. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20193-6.
Men at risk for suicide are a challenging population group to reach with suicide prevention strategies. Gatekeepers hold a pivotal role in the prevention of male suicide, yet effective intervention requires them to have a level of knowledge and strategies to provide support.
This study aimed to examine the efficacy of an online gatekeeper program for gatekeepers in male suicide prevention, assessing knowledge, perceived preparedness, self-efficacy, and psychopathological symptoms of gatekeepers.
Eighty-four participants were randomized to either the intervention (n = 43) or the waitlist control group (n = 41). The intervention comprised four modules providing knowledge and strategies for addressing men in suicidal crises. Outcomes included depression (PHQ-9), distress (PSS-10), burden (BAS), involvement (IEQ), as well as gatekeeper outcomes and knowledge.
Completer analyses revealed significant improvement of depressive symptoms (d = 0.39) and an increase in gatekeeper outcomes (d = 0.58 to d = 0.84) and knowledge (d = 0.62) from baseline to post-assessment. The effects were maintained for 3 months. No significant effects could be found for burden, distress, and involvement.
The findings indicate that a brief gatekeeper program can serve as a valuable resource. Future research should focus on examining the mental health of gatekeepers themselves and its long-term effects on intervention behavior.
German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00030758, registered on 05.12.2022.
对于自杀预防策略来说，有自杀风险的男性是一个具有挑战性的群体。把关人在预防男性自杀方面起着关键作用，但有效的干预措施需要他们具备一定的知识和策略来提供支持。
本研究旨在检验一种针对男性自杀预防把关人的在线把关人计划的效果，评估把关人在知识、预防准备、自我效能感和心理病理症状方面的变化。
84 名参与者被随机分配到干预组（n=43）或等待名单对照组（n=41）。干预组包括四个模块，提供了处理处于自杀危机中的男性的知识和策略。结果包括抑郁（PHQ-9）、困扰（PSS-10）、负担（BAS）、参与度（IEQ），以及把关人结果和知识。
完成分析显示，从基线到评估后，抑郁症状显著改善（d=0.39），把关人结果（d=0.58 至 d=0.84）和知识（d=0.62）显著增加。这些效果在 3 个月后仍能维持。在负担、困扰和参与度方面未发现显著影响。
研究结果表明，一个简短的把关人计划可以作为一个有价值的资源。未来的研究应重点关注把关人自身的心理健康及其对干预行为的长期影响。
德国临床试验注册处，DRKS00030758，于 2022 年 12 月 5 日注册。
