Faculty Collaboration Database

Assessment of a Pilot Peer Support Program for Suicide Prevention on a Medical School Campus: Impact on Awareness, Stigma, and Self-Efficacy for Outreach. WMJ 2024 Jul;123(3):195-198

Date

07/18/2024

Pubmed ID

39024147

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85199127388 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

With the continued rise in mental health concerns, including suicide on college campuses nationwide, many academic institutions have developed peer-support programs. Correspondingly, the Medical College of Wisconsin developed and evaluated Seeking Peer Outreach* as its pioneer suicide prevention initiative. Seeking Peer Outreach* is an innovative approach to provide all medical students near-peer support and outreach encouraging engagement and conversations in effort to reduce the stigma and isolation often associated with mental health concerns in professional education. This study explores the effectiveness and efficacy of Seeking Peer Outreach* - a 3-tiered peer-support system. A survey of medical students, faculty, and staff demonstrated that the program increased knowledge on suicidal thoughts and behaviors and improved self-efficacy in talking about mental health with peers. It also showed that effective training helps individuals gain confidence with mental health interventions and suicide prevention.

Author List

Balson C, York J, Cipriano D, Fritz JD, Kohlbeck S, Huang S, Lieb M

Authors

David J. Cipriano PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jeffery Duane Fritz PhD Associate Director, Associate Professor in the Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Sara Kohlbeck PhD, MPH Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Female
Humans
Male
Peer Group
Pilot Projects
Program Evaluation
Schools, Medical
Self Efficacy
Social Stigma
Social Support
Students, Medical
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wisconsin