Cited by 61Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesSchool Health and Nursing EducationGun Ownership and Violence Research

Effectiveness of school-based preventive programs in suicidal thoughts and behaviors: a meta-analysis

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Gijzen, Mandy W.M., Rasing, Sanne P.A., Creemers, Daan H.M., Engels, Rutger C.M.E., Smit, Filip·2022·Journal of Affective Disorders

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among adolescents have hardly decreased despite preventative efforts. School-based prevention programs could have a great reach, yet suicide prevention is not an easy topic to address. To increase acceptability of school-based suicide prevention, it is important to evaluate whether programs that target known risk factors of STBs, such as depression, could be equally effective. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search in major electronic databases. Outcomes were suicidal ideation and behaviors. Multivariate random effects meta-regression-analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Eleven primary studies met the inclusion criteria, totalling 23,230 participants. The post-test effect size was small for both suicidal ideation (g = 0.15) and suicidal behaviors (g = 0.30). Meta-regression indicated that targeting known risk factors of STBs was not a significant modifier of effect size for ideation, indicating equal effectiveness. However, it was significant modifier of effect for behaviors, but only one intervention targeted know risk factors. Effects at follow-up (3-12 months) were also significant but small for both outcomes. LIMITATIONS: Substantial heterogeneity between studies was noted. Only few and small sample size studies could be included that targeted known risk factors of STBs. Therefore, these results should be interpreted with caution. CONCLUSIONS: School-based prevention of STBs shows some promise within three months post-test assessments, and potentially also have effects that are sustained over time. More studies are needed to make conclusions regarding school-based interventions that target risk factors of STBs.

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  • Similar to our conclusions, authors of Gijzen 2022 note considerable heterogeneity and that there are few and small trials.

    “Similar to our conclusions, authors note considerable heterogeneity and that there are few and small trials.”

    From Prevention of self-harm and suicide in young people up to the age of 25 in education settings (2024) · cites this paper as Gijzen 2022

    The Main findings and Strengths and limitations sections report substantial heterogeneity. Strengths and limitations also says that only three studies of upstream interventions were identified and that these had relatively small samples. The claim omits that restriction: the paper does not characterize all included trials as few and small. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Gijzen 2022 had broader inclusion criteria than our review.

    “Therefore, again, Gijzen 2022 had broader inclusion criteria than our review”

    From Prevention of self-harm and suicide in young people up to the age of 25 in education settings (2024) · cites this paper as Gijzen 2022

    Section 2.1 lists Gijzen’s inclusion criteria, and Section 4.2 says the meta-analysis included upstream interventions that previous reviews had left out. That supports broader inclusion relative to some previous reviews, but our copy does not establish that its criteria were broader than those of the citing authors’ review. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Authors
Gijzen, M. W. M., Rasing, S. P. A., Creemers, D. H. M., Engels, R. C. M. E., & Smit, F.
Affiliations
  • Trimbos Institute (NL)
  • Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
  • Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL)
Corresponding author
Gijzen, Mandy W.M.
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-02
Volume
298
Issue
Pt A
Pages
408-420
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3209418269
Cited by
61
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2020: 1
FWCI
1.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
  • Social Sciences › Health › Gun Ownership and Violence Research
Keywords
school-based prevention, suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, suicide prevention, adolescents, depression, risk factors, intervention effectiveness, sustained effects
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Humans, Preventive Health Services, Schools, Suicide, Suicide, Attempted, Suicidal Ideation

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