An Outcome Evaluation of the SOS Suicide Prevention Program
Robert H. Aseltine, Jr, PhD and
Robert DeMartino, MD
Robert H. Aseltine Jr is with the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Conn. Robert DeMartino is with the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Md.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Robert H. Aseltine Jr, PhD, Dept of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health, MC 3910, University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030-3910 (e-mail: aseltine{at}uchc.edu).
Objectives. We examined the effectiveness of the Signs of Suicide(SOS) prevention program in reducing suicidal behavior.
Methods. Twenty-one hundred students in 5 high schools in Columbus,Ga, and Hartford, Conn, were randomly assigned to interventionand control groups. Self-administered questionnaires were completedby students in both groups approximately 3 months after programimplementation.
Results. Significantly lower rates of suicide attempts and greaterknowledge and more adaptive attitudes about depression and suicidewere observed among students in the intervention group. Themodest changes in knowledge and attitudes partially explainedthe beneficial effects of the program.
Conclusions. SOS is the first school-based suicide preventionprogram to demonstrate significant reductions in self-reportedsuicide attempts.
This article has been cited by other articles:
J. M. Tkaczyk and A. Edelson School Nurses: A Bridge to Suicide Prevention
NASN School Nurse,
May 1, 2009;
24(3):
124 - 127.
[Full Text][PDF]
S. H. Stephan, M. Weist, S. Kataoka, S. Adelsheim, and C. Mills Transformation of Children's Mental Health Services: The Role of School Mental Health
Psychiatr Serv,
October 1, 2007;
58(10):
1330 - 1338.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
P. S. Wang, J. Sherrill, and B. Vitiello Unmet Need for Services and Interventions Among Adolescents With Mental Disorders
Am J Psychiatry,
January 1, 2007;
164(1):
1 - 3.
[Full Text][PDF]
I. Melle, J. O. Johannesen, S. Friis, U. Haahr, I. Joa, T. K. Larsen, S. Opjordsmoen, B. R. Rund, E. Simonsen, P. Vaglum, et al. Early Detection of the First Episode of Schizophrenia and Suicidal Behavior
Am J Psychiatry,
May 1, 2006;
163(5):
800 - 804.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. J. Mann, A. Apter, J. Bertolote, A. Beautrais, D. Currier, A. Haas, U. Hegerl, J. Lonnqvist, K. Malone, A. Marusic, et al. Suicide Prevention Strategies: A Systematic Review
JAMA,
October 26, 2005;
294(16):
2064 - 2074.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. Olfson, M. J. Gameroff, S. C. Marcus, T. Greenberg, and D. Shaffer National Trends in Hospitalization of Youth With Intentional Self-Inflicted Injuries
Am J Psychiatry,
July 1, 2005;
162(7):
1328 - 1335.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
P. S. Wang, P. Berglund, M. Olfson, H. A. Pincus, K. B. Wells, and R. C. Kessler Failure and Delay in Initial Treatment Contact After First Onset of Mental Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
June 1, 2005;
62(6):
603 - 613.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. S. Gould, F. A. Marrocco, M. Kleinman, J. G. Thomas, K. Mostkoff, J. Cote, and M. Davies Evaluating Iatrogenic Risk of Youth Suicide Screening Programs: A Randomized Controlled Trial
JAMA,
April 6, 2005;
293(13):
1635 - 1643.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. Vander Stoep, E. Mccauley, K. A. Thompson, J. R. Herting, E. S. Kuo, D. G. Stewart, C. A. Anderson, and S. Kushner Universal Emotional Health Screening at the Middle School Transition
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders,
January 1, 2005;
13(4):
213 - 223.
[Abstract][PDF]