UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Avila, Maria Mercedes
Dept./Program:
College of Education and Social Services
Year:
2014
Degree:
Ph. D.
Abstract:
The purpose of this mixed methods sequential explanatory study was to identify factors contributing to providers' and community members' suicidality attitude and knowledge changes in Vermont communities by obtaining quantitative results (pre- and post-training evalutions) from surveying youth suicide prevention gatekeeper training participants (n=316); and then following up purposefully selected respondnets (n=16) in two Vermont communities to explore those results in more depth via focus group interviews. In the first, quantitative phase, findings show significant changes in knowledge and attitude from pre- to post-training.
In the qualitative follow up phase analysis, five major themes emerged: (1) Community Characteristics Impacting Youth, (2) Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services, (3) Benefits of the Youth Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, (4) Changes Resulting from the Youth Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, and (5) Additional Supports Needed for At-Risk Youth. The quantitative and qualitative findings from the two phases of the study are discussed with reference to prior research in a third phase. Implications and recommendations for future research are provided.
In the qualitative follow up phase analysis, five major themes emerged: (1) Community Characteristics Impacting Youth, (2) Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services, (3) Benefits of the Youth Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, (4) Changes Resulting from the Youth Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, and (5) Additional Supports Needed for At-Risk Youth. The quantitative and qualitative findings from the two phases of the study are discussed with reference to prior research in a third phase. Implications and recommendations for future research are provided.