Competence-building in adolescents, part II: community intervention for survivors of peer suicide

Together these studies suggest that social support in the community, and a professionally led support group or therapy group program for adults and for children might be helpful.

“Together these studies suggest that social support in the community (Sandor et al., 1994), and a professionally led (with involvement of trained volunteers) support group or therapy group program for adults (Farberow, 1992) and for children (Pfeffer et al., 2002) might be helpful.”

A study of a series of three church-based support meetings following a suicide in the community found modest positive effects in the intervention group in terms of greater self-efficacy, social acceptance and job competency, up to 2 months after the intervention.

“A study of a series of three church-based support meetings following a suicide in the community found modest positive effects in the intervention group in terms of greater self-efficacy, social acceptance and job competency, up to 2 months after the intervention (Sandor et al., 1994).”

Involvement of the wider community might contribute to the effectiveness of an intervention.

“Similarly, involvement of the wider community might contribute to the effectiveness of an intervention (Sandor et al., 1994).”

Most studies involved interventions that targeted adult populations, but three tested interventions aimed at children or adolescents.

“Most studies involved interventions that targeted adult populations, but three tested interventions aimed at children or adolescents [38, 39, 43].”

Eight of the 11 studies were conducted in the USA.

“Eight studies were conducted in the USA [33–40].”

Six studies tested the effectiveness of a group intervention, including a group/school-based intervention.

“Six studies tested the effectiveness of a group intervention [33–36, 39], including a group/school-based intervention [43].”

Sandor et al. reported that a series of three church-based support meetings following a suicide in the community found modest positive effects in the intervention group in terms of greater self-efficacy, social acceptance and job competency, up to two months after the intervention.

“Sandor et al. [39] reported the effects of a series of three church-based support meetings following a suicide in the community. Modest positive effects were found in the intervention group in terms of greater self-efficacy, social acceptance and job competency, up to two months after the intervention.”

All reviewed studies reported on effectiveness of interventions in terms of various psychosocial outcomes, such as depression and/or anxiety, posttraumatic stress, distress and social adjustment, self-efficacy, problem solving, and substance use.

“All reviewed studies reported on effectiveness of interventions in terms of various psychosocial outcomes, such as depression and/or anxiety [e.g., 34, 38], posttraumatic stress [38], distress and social adjustment [34], self-efficacy [39], problem solving [33], and substance use [43].”

Involving parents or the wider community may contribute to the effectiveness.

“Involving parents [38], or the wider community [39] may contribute to the effectiveness.”