Evaluation of an Urban School Adolescent Suicide Program

Abstract

In recent years school-based suicide programs have proliferated in US public schools (Harris and Crawford, 1987). These programs often vary in purpose, scope and quality (Garfinkel, 1986). How widely the programs vary is unknown since many failed to include an evaluative component. The purpose of this paper is to review a comprehensive school-based suicide program developed and implemented in north Texas public schools and to report the findings of an evaluation of the program. The program evaluation includes a review of goals, pilot testing of staff training, pre-/post-training measures and the impact of the program on the attitudes of district administrators and counselors. Pilot testing of training was found to be an effective method of program development. Pre-test/post-test measures indicated that crisis training was educationally effective. In addition, a significant difference was found between administrators and counselors who were exposed to the program and administrators and counselors from another district which had no program. Strengths and limitations of the evaluation will be reviewed as a guide to future study.