Development and pilot evaluation of an online psychoeducational program for suicide prevention among university students: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

IntroductionSuicide is the second leading cause of death for the university aged population globally. A significant proportion of students with suicidal ideation or behaviours do not seek professional help. Few primary suicide prevention programs have specifically targeted help seeking for suicidal ideation or behaviours among university students.MethodsThis study reported the development and pilot test of a brief, two-module online psychoeducational program (ProHelp) that aimed to encourage help seeking for suicidal ideation and behaviours among university students. The program consists of two five-minute modules that address the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, stigmatising attitudes, and perceived barriers to help seeking. 156 Chinese university students and 101 Australian university students were recruited to evaluate the effectiveness of this program at post-test and one-month follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to the psychoeducational program or an attention control program.ResultsOf the Chinese and Australian students who were randomised into the study, around 50% completed the two­day post­test survey, and 30% completed the one-month follow­up survey. Although no significant difference was found between the control and experimental group on professional help-seeking beliefs and intentions, both groups' help-seeking attitudes increased during the study (p = 0.003 for the post­test survey, and p = 0.008 for the follow­up survey). The experimental group in both countries demonstrated a significant improvement in suicide literacy at the post-test survey (p = 0.015) compared to control. Qualitative feedback indicated that the ProHelp program was user-friendly, clear, and helpful.ConclusionsThis study provides initial evidence that a brief online psychoeducational program could enhance university students' suicide literacy in both China and Australia. It also suggests that increasing suicide literacy might not be sufficient to improve students' help seeking, although effect sizes indicated that this low­intensity online approach shows promise in encouraging more positive beliefs towards help seeking and preparedness to help individuals with suicidal ideation among young people.

Suicide Stigma and Suicide Literacy in a Clinical Sample

“…Public awareness campaigns have been conducted in Australia in the past several decades to improve the community's knowledge and attitudes toward suicide and mental illnesses (Mok et al., ; Pirkis et al., ). Although stigma toward mental illnesses has somewhat attenuated, there is some evidence that stigma toward suicidal individuals and survivors may be more entrenched (Han, Batterham, Calear, Wu, Xue, et al., ; Taylor‐Rodgers & Batterham, ).…”

Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Among Community-Dwelling Population in China

“…A 40-year review from 1968 to 2008 showed that the ATSPPH has become increasingly negative over time (27). In China, most research about help-seeking attitude has focused on college students (28)(29)(30). One study found that 40.4% of Chinese university students expressed willingness to seek help from a psychiatrist if they had suicidal ideation.…”

Shifting Beliefs about Suicide: Pre-Post Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Program for Workers in the Construction Industry

“…Self-stigma (self-blame, shame) is known to reduce help-seeking among those with mental illness [ 11 , 12 ]. While not immutable, it is known that self-stigma is difficult to shift [ 12 , 13 ]. There is also evidence that beliefs about treatment effectiveness or non-effectiveness serves to stymie help-seeking, as does a lack of perceived need [ 14 ].…”