Suicide Prevention for College Student (SPCS) Gatekeepers
What is a Gatekeeper?
Gatekeepers are members of a particular population or group who are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of suicide in their peers.
Can a college student be a gatekeeper?
Absolutely! College students are the chosen audience for this program, as they are deeply rooted in the campus community and thus well-positioned to notice suicide warning signs in peers. With the right tools, student gatekeepers can intervene to help those at risk for suicide.
The Suicide Prevention for College Student (SPCS) Gatekeepers Program is a 90-minute, evidence-based gatekeeper training designed specifically for college students, developed by licensed psychologists at Clover Educational Consulting Group (Clover). The SPCS Gatekeepers Program teaches students to recognize signs and symptoms associated with suicide risk and to support appropriate help-seeking behaviors. Our synchronous training is unique because the research, discussion questions, and role play activities used in the training are focused on the college student experience. This makes the training engaging and meaningful to students who participate.
What will Students Learn?
The SPCS Gatekeepers Program is divided into the following training components:
The Information Phase: Students learn about suicide safe language, statistics related to college students and suicide, common myths, risk factors, and warning signs for suicide.
The Skills Phase: Students learn to conduct a suicide risk assessment and are taught to utilize a decision tree to inform best next steps. They also review local and national mental health resources.
The Practice Phase: Students engage in role-plays to practice the skills they learned and receive feedback provided by the program facilitator.
Across all phases, discussion and polling questions are used to encourage participant engagement. Each training is limited to 30 participants to maximize program benefits.
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
"The course was very informative and provided me with information that could save a life."
"I felt empowered that I have the ability to help in a crisis."
"I already had experience with people who were suicidal, but now I feel better prepared. I wish more people understood how big of a problem this is."
"This training is so important. In an environment where many people our age are feeling suicidal or need help, it helps to have peers know how to help or where to get help."
"I think everyone should receive this training."
"As a college student, I have encountered many students that have shown signs that... they were suicidal. I now feel more equipped to handle those situations."
Research shows that approximately 50% of student participants actively use the suicide prevention skills they learn within 12-weeks following the training.
A best practice in suicide PRevention
The SPCS Gatekeepers Program was reviewed by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and accepted into their national Best Practices Registry in 2023.
It is the only suicide prevention program in the Best Practice Registry that was specifically developed for, and has an established evidence base for, college students.
Research Support
The SPCS Gatekeepers Program was developed and piloted in 2017. Following the training, student participants reported greater suicide prevention competence, endorsed fewer stigmatizing beliefs, and reported increased knowledge about suicide. High program acceptability scores across all items indicated that the program was well received (Ross, S. G., DeHay, T., & Deiling, M., 2021).
Since, three SAMHSA Mental Health Awareness Training Grants supported a large-scale dissemination effort of the program across four college campuses. Outcomes replicated those of the pilot study at post-test and were sustained 12 weeks after the training, and almost half of participants reported that they supported someone with a mental health concern post-training (Ross, S. G., Pazienza, R., & Rosa, J. D., 2023).
Similar outcomes have been found when the program is presented synchronously in-person and online. (Ross, S.G., Pazienza, R., & Rosa, J. D., manuscript under review).
A scale construction study is underway to develop and validate a package of measures to examine outcomes for gatekeeper training programs (Pazienza, R., Rosa, J., Ross, S. G., DeHay, T., & Lipowski, S., in preparation).
Bringing a Training to Your Campus
Cost
For a flat rate of $600, a certified SPCS Instructor at Clover Educational Consulting Group will provide a virtual SPCS Gatekeepers training to a group of up to 30 students on your campus.
Students will join the training via a personalized Zoom link, which allows them to actively participate in discussion, polls, and role play activities.
Students who complete the training will receive a certificate of completion. Many students list this training on their resumes/CVs.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the program or would like Clover to provide a SPCS Gatekeepers training for your campus, please contact Clover Educational Consulting Group at spcs@clovered.org.
About Clover
Clover Educational Consulting Group, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit corporation with a mission of improving the mental health of the community through advances in policy, workforce, and training. Clover is based in Mineola, Texas, with a secondary branch in Austin. The founders of Clover are doctoral-level licensed psychologists with specific expertise in research, administration, policy, program development, and education and training.