RESPONSE;
Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program

GETTING STARTED:

For a comprehensive toolkit and curriculum materials, visit the Suicide Prevention Center.

Mental Health Literacy Component Inventory

Understanding how to foster and maintain positive mental health: ADDRESSED

Understanding mental health disorders and their treatments: ADDRESSED

Decreasing stigma: ADDRESSED

Understanding how to seek help effectively: ADDRESSED

Learning Standard Inventory

Based on learning standards provided by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Compare & contrast emotional, mental + behavioral illness, mental well-being and concurrent disorders

YES

Identify school and community resources that can help a person with emotional, mental and behavioral health concerns

YES

Describe how self-harm or suicide impacts other people

Explain how to help someone who is thinking about attempting suicide

YES

Describe laws related to minors accessing mental health care

Advocate for reducing stigma associated with emotional and mental and behavioral health

YES

RESPONSE is a comprehensive middle and high school program that increases awareness about suicide among school staff, students and parents. All program components are designed to heighten sensitivity to depression and suicidal ideation, increase identification, and facilitate referral. The program also provides procedures to refer a student who may be at-risk for suicide. Components include (1) a two-hour awareness training for staff, (2) a four-hour student curriculum (spread across four class periods), and parent awareness materials. An implementation assistance manual is also included for administrators. Before implementing the awareness components, participating schools must identify key staff to serve on a suicide prevention team. Key school-based staff should include the principal or vice-principal, a school-based RESPONSE coordinator, two "suicide contacts" responsible for handling referrals, and a counselor. Each component of RESPONSE integrates extensive “in the field” experience and key evaluation findings from other school-based programs. Videos for the awareness components were developed in collaboration with an award-winning film company.

Materials, Evidence and Implementation

SUPPORT MATERIALS

•Resources/Materials: Easy-to-use Manuals, Slides, and Videos
•Fidelity Measure: Y, self-report
•Student learning measure: Y, can be adapted

EVIDENCE

- 1 Study (non-empirical)
- Program Evaluation
- 1878 students in study
- It is promising that youth receiving RESPONSE had more positive prevention attitudes, prevention
self-efficacy, and knowledge. It is also important that RESPONSE youth reported reduced
suicidal ideation.

IMPLEMENTATION

•Program Material Cost: $440 per school or district
•Modality: Presentations

•Setting: Health Classes
•Grade level(s): Middle-High
•Who delivers the program: Multiple Role Options
•Qualifications/Training needed?: No

•Training Description: None Needed
•Virtual option? Possible
•Length: 1, 2 hr staff session and 4, 45 min student sessions