Mental health of gatekeepers may influence their own attitudes toward suicide: A questionnaire survey from a suicide-prevention gatekeeper training program

Abstract

Aims: We aimed to investigate the association between general mental health and attitudes toward suicide of participants in suicide-prevention gatekeeper training programs.

Methods: We conducted a number of half day training seminars within a suicide prevention program addressing gatekeepers. Participants filled in two questionnaires, one measuring general health (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12), and one measuring attitudes towards suicide (ATTS).

Results: The total sample size of participants was 230, of whom 115 completed questionnaires. There were no significant differences in demographic backgrounds between the good mental health (GHQ-12 ≤ 4) and the poor mental health (GHQ-12 ≥ 5) groups. The poor mental health group was more likely to think that people have the right to commit suicide.

Conclusion: There was a difference in attitudes toward suicide between the good mental health and the poor mental health groups, indicating that attention should be paid to participants' mental health when conducting suicide-prevention gatekeeper training.

Keywords: Gatekeeper training; Mental health; Suicide; Suicide prevention.