Building Capacity for Mental Health Literacy of Suicidality and Self-Injurious Behaviors: a Formative Design Investigation

Abstract

Teachers receive minimal training regarding mental health literacy and more specifically behavioral indicators for suicide ideation, suicidality, and self-injurious behaviors that may be occurring among their students. Yet, research has identified the value of training teachers on self-injury and suicide as findings indicate that intentional trainings can increase participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in supporting students at risk for self-injury and/or suicide. In this formative design study, the development of an online curriculum was explored. Further, the pilot data was collected after a field test of two of the modules of the Behavioral Indicator Training (BIT) program. Results indicate an improvement in knowledge of behavioral indicators and improved self-efficacy for recognizing suicide ideation, suicidality, and self-injurious behavioral indicators.