Evaluation of suicide awareness programmes delivered to veterinary undergraduates and academic staff

Vet Rec. 2010 Nov 6;167(19):730-4. doi: 10.1136/vr.c5427.

Abstract

In an effort to increase suicide awareness skills among veterinary undergraduates, a three-hour suicide awareness workshop (safeTALK) was delivered to third-year Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies undergraduates as part of their professional development curriculum. Students were able to opt out of the session by contacting the course organisers. A total of 26 of 151 (17 per cent) third-year students attended the workshop, and 17 completed a feedback questionnaire. The vast majority of the students reported that after completing the workshop they were more likely or much more likely to recognise the signs of a person at risk of suicide, approach a person at risk of suicide, ask a person about suicide, and connect a person at risk of suicide with help. Five veterinary academics attended a two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) course, and all reported that the course was effective in improving suicide awareness and intervention skills.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Awareness
  • Crisis Intervention / education
  • Curriculum
  • Education, Veterinary*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Program Evaluation*
  • Schools, Veterinary
  • Students / psychology*
  • Suicide / psychology*
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Veterinarians / psychology*
  • Veterinarians / statistics & numerical data
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Young Adult