Peer Helping Programs: Helper Role, Supervisor Training, and Suicidal Behavior

Abstract

A survey of school counseling association members concerning peer helper programs provided information on the nature and prevalence of programs within Washington State. Descriptive analyses indicate that peer helper‐counseling programs are widely used and that they are often supervised by noncounseling professionals. Furthermore, the analysis revealed significantly greater numbers of completed suicides at those schools where programs are supervised by noncounseling professionals.

Many Helping Hearts: An Evaluation of Peer Gatekeeper Training in Suicide Risk Assessment

“…Recommendations regarding school-based suicide prevention programming include both gatekeeper training of adults and peer support programs (Hayden & Lauer, 2000;Kalafat & Elias, 1995;Tierney, 1998). However, there is no evidence in the literature about schoolbased suicide prevention of gatekeeper training with peer helpers.There are, however, some authors in the literature on peer helping who recommend training peers in specific suicide intervention strategies and in the recognition of suicide risk factors (Herring, 1990;Lewis & Lewis, 1996;Martin, Martin, & Barrett, 1987).…”

“…Because studies have shown that 25% to 40% of male peers and 40% to 60% of female peers know someone who has attempted suicide, and only about 25% of these confidants actually tell an adult about their suicidal peer (Kalafat & Elias, 1995), a natural extension of peer helping would be training peers in suicide risk assessment. However, evaluations of peer helping programs, both general and specific to suicide prevention, are few and their conclusions are limited because of methodological issues (Lewis & Lewis, 1996). Kalafat & Elias (1994) demonstrated that, compared with a control group, adolescents who participated in suicide intervention classes made significant gains in relevant knowledge about suicidal peers.…”

Empowering Peers to Prevent Youth Violence

“…Awareness building is the beginning step for all successful antiviolence models. Unfortunately, this process is often started because a tragedy or major outbreak of violence has occurred (Hazler, 1996;Kalafat & Underwood, 1989;Lewis & Lewis, 1996;Ross, 1996). On the other hand, forward-thinking professionals, peers, and community members who see the potential for greater problems can also start the process.…”

“…Peer counselor. One final assertive role is that of peer counselor, which, like the role of policy enforcer, appears infrequently in the peer-on-peer litera-ture (e.g., Ross, 1996) and virtually never in the peer-on-self literature (Lewis & Lewis, 1996). The call for this role emphasizes the fact that young people often share more information, thoughts, and feelings with their peers than with adults, and therefore more problematic issues can be given attention.…”

Home parenteral nutrition: does affiliation with a national support and educational organization improve patient outcomes?

“…[21][22][23][24][25] Patient outcome results indicate that participation in such a group decreases depression, anxiety, worry, and hospitalizations and increases self-care and satisfaction with the care of all health care professionals. 26 Specifically, affiliation with support and educational organizations has improved patient outcomes for those with diabetes and cancer, 27,28 those with arthritis and immune illness, 29,30 those with mental illness, [31][32][33][34] in those who have undergone amputation and other surgical therapies, [35][36][37] and in those with Alzheimer's disease and stroke. 38 -40 Studies have shown that contact with others who have managed a similar condition enhances self-esteem, helps patients master their own care, and enhances patients' sense of well-being.…”