Emotionally Troubled Teens’ Help-Seeking Behaviors: An Evaluation of Surviving the Teens ® Suicide Prevention and Depression Awareness Program
Abstract
Many school-based suicide prevention programs do not show a positive impact on help-seeking behaviors among emotionally troubled teens despite their being at high risk for suicide. This study is a secondary analysis of the Surviving the Teens ® program evaluation to determine its effect on help-seeking behaviors among troubled youth. Results showed significant increases in mean scores of the Behavioral Intent to Communicate with Important Others Regarding Emotional Health Issues subscale ( p < .0005) from pretest to 3-month follow-up. There was a significant increase ( p = .006) in mean scores of the Behavioral Intent Regarding Help-Seeking Behaviors when Suicidal subscale from pretest to posttest, but not at 3-month follow-up. Also, there was a significant increase ( p = .016) in mean scores in the item “I would tell an adult if I was suicidal” from pretest to 3-month follow-up. These findings suggest that the Surviving the Teens program has a positive effect on help-seeking behaviors in troubled youth.
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Two studies evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention combining depression awareness and a suicide prevention programme promoting early identification and self-referral.
“Two studies evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention combining depression awareness and a suicide prevention programme promoting early identification and self-referral [99, 100].”
From What are the barriers, facilitators and interventions targeting help-seeking behaviours for common mental health problems in adolescents? A systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [100]
Strunk et al. found a significant increase of help-seeking; however, this was not sustained at follow-up.
“Strunk et al., [100] found a significant increase of help-seeking (p < 0.0005); however, this was not sustained at follow-up (p = 0.014).”
From What are the barriers, facilitators and interventions targeting help-seeking behaviours for common mental health problems in adolescents? A systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [100]
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- Authors
- Strunk, C. M., Sorter, M. T., Ossege, J., & King, K. A.
- Affiliations
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
- Northern Kentucky University (US)
- University of Cincinnati (US)
- Venue
- The Journal of School Nursing
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-11-06
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 366-375
- ISSN
- 1059-8405 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-8364
- OpenAlex
- W2136725633
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 1.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of School Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Keywords
- help-seeking, suicide prevention programs, suicidal ideation, behavioral intention, school-based intervention, adolescent mental health
- MeSH terms
- Help-Seeking Behavior, Suicide Prevention, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Female, Health Education, Health Promotion, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Ohio, Surveys and Questionnaires, School Health Services, Program Evaluation
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