ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Suicidality is common in youth care and has a major impact on young people, parents and professionals. The number of suicides among young people (10-25 years) in the Netherlands has risen in recent years from 103 suicides in 2008 to 159 suicides in 2019, with a high of 169 suicides in 2017. Many youth care professionals experience timidity in dealing with suicidal behaviour. AIM: To investigate whether suicide prevention training leads to an improvement in knowledge, skills and self-confidence in dealing with suicidal behavior in young people. METHOD: Professionals working at a national youth care institution participated in suicide prevention training. Before and immediately after the training they completed questionnaires to measure their knowledge, skills and self-confidence in the field of suicide prevention. RESULTS: There was an improvement in knowledge, skills and self-confidence of youth care professionals after the training. In particular, more knowledge about suicide prevention led to more self-confidence. The change was equal in the different forms of care. Scientifically trained and higher educated professionals showed a less strong change in their competencies than secondary educated professionals. The change in knowledge and skills was less pronounced the older the professionals were. CONCLUSION: Participation in suicide prevention training led to more knowledge, skills and self-confidence of youth care professionals in dealing with suicidal behaviour.
