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Alexander Beers
No full textA portrait photo of Reverend Alexander Beers.https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/archives_images_seminary/1069/thumbnail.jp
Implementation of Staff Education on Suicide Prevention
Full text linkImplementation of Staff Education on Suicide Prevention
Kelsey Crosby, Hannah Cryder, Julianne Ji, Trista Joy, Ashlyn Mulcahey, Isabel Pfingston, and Jaylen Wilson
School of Health Sciences, Seattle Pacific University
NUR4153: Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement
Dr. Bomin Shim
February 26, 2025
Implementation of Staff Education on Suicide Prevention
Our group, consisting of seven nursing students, partnered with an agency dedicated to supporting individuals in recovery from addictions of all forms, including substance use, gambling, and alcohol dependence. The agency focuses on helping them reach their full potential, minimize relapse, and maintain recovery. Elements of the agency’s work include providing two nutritious meals per day, recovery groups, volunteer opportunities, twelve-step meetings, referral services, and more. During our assessment, we found that staff members were concerned about suicide among their members, referring to individuals who regularly utilize the agency’s services and participate in its programs. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to educate agency staff on suicidality in individuals with a history of substance use disorders (SUD), who face a higher risk compared to those without, and to equip them with resources to support members during crises (Poorolajal, 2016). We created evidence-based education materials through a video presentation, pamphlets, and a poster with a survey to evaluate short-term outcomes. While working with the agency, our outcome goal was to improve staff knowledge and their confidence to approach members who display warning signs of suicidality or are in an active crisis. Background
A death by suicide occurs every 11 minutes, accounting for 49,000 deaths a year, and 1.6 million suicide attempts (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). Of these, people with substance use disorder are approximately two times more likely to have a suicide attempt than those without (Poorolajal, 2016). Suicide is strongly associated with substance use, with males who misuse drugs being two to three times more likely to complete suicide compared to those who do not (Dragisic, 2015). For females, the risk increases even further, making them 6.5 to nine times more likely. This disparity can be linked to the evidence that males are more likely to have a fatal suicide attempt, while women are more likely to have suicidal ideation and nonfatal attempts (Berardelli, 2022). Therefore, the data is deceiving due to the higher baseline rate. Furthermore, those who use opiates are at a 14-fold risk of dying by suicide versus the general population (Rizk, 2021). This itself can be attributed to the physiological changes perpetuated by opiates. Opiates alter the limbic and striatal circuitry in the brain, leading to negative emotions being felt more strongly. It also stimulates amygdala activation, which is inculpated in negative emotional reactivity and suicidal ideation. Therefore, causing an increase in the occurrence and strength of suicidal ideation. Activities with Rationale
During our assessment, the agency’s staff members expressed a strong concern related to suicide risk among the members due to a history of substance use disorders. A study conducted in 2024 by Hawley et al. highlights the effectiveness of suicide prevention education for multiple subgroups in enhancing knowledge, awareness, and intention to act. This education program covered topics such as suicide risk, statistics, warning signs, stigma reduction, and crisis resources. It provided online education, allowing flexibility among participants to complete the training at their convenience.
For the intervention, we decided to formulate an evidence-based education for staff members related to suicide risk. The intervention was presented through a video presentation that was seven minutes in length. A video presentation was confirmed as an ideal method by the agency coordinator as the staff members could view it at a time that was suitable for them. The topics covered in the presentation include the correlation between suicide and substance use disorder, signs of suicidal ideation, and how to respond to a crisis. We also created physical deliverables for the agency, including pamphlets and a large poster to make key information readily accessible. Our group created evaluation surveys for the staff members. This allowed us to determine if they developed a greater knowledge and/or confidence in identifying warning signs for suicide and/or responding to a mental health crisis. Our goal was to have 80% of staff indicate increased knowledge and confidence in addressing suicidality in members with SUD. Access to the video presentation and evaluation was available in staff members’ emails and through QR codes presented on the poster and pamphlets. Outcomes
On the day of the intervention, eight staff members received the educational materials, and our group engaged in a discussion with them about the information. Following the implementation of the intervention, five staff members completed a five-question survey by scanning a QR code. The results indicate that 80% of respondents reported increased confidence in their ability to care for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation or crisis. Additionally, 100% of staff members felt they had been provided with the necessary resources to assist someone in crisis. Furthermore, 80% of staff members stated that their understanding of the importance of suicide prevention had increased as a result of the information provided in the pamphlet. However, only 60% reported an improvement in their ability to identify individuals experiencing suicidal ideation or crisis. While two staff members found the intervention\u27s resources helpful, they noted that much of the information was already familiar to them.
Our group partially succeeded at increasing the knowledge and confidence about suicide prevention among staff at the agency, therefore making progress toward our outcome goal. The agency was short-staffed on our intervention day, and therefore we were only able to collect data from five staff members. Through the survey and verbal conversations with the staff, they found the most helpful portion of the pamphlet to be the resources portion. In the survey, one of the anonymous staff members wrote that they “love having one pamphlet with several pieces of useful information rather than searching through multiple resources to be able to help someone in crisis”. We were able to evaluate the initial impact of the intervention through the survey results and verbal conversations.
With the educational materials, referrals to local resources, and facility staff training, our impact goal was to reduce suicide rates among members of the agency. To monitor the effectiveness of our impact goal, we can communicate with the agency over the next several years to confirm a decrease in suicide rates. Conclusion
We were unable to analyze the long-term impact of the project, however, the desired impact of the interventions was to aid in reducing the rate of suicide in people with SUD in Seattle. The project is meant to be a consistent resource for the staff at the facility, used as continuing education for long-term staff, new hire orientation, and any volunteers who would like further education on suicidality and SUD. However, there are limitations to our resources for long-term use. The information in the video, pamphlet, and poster will need to be reviewed and edited every five to ten years with more relevant and accurate data and resources. Further evaluation of efficacy and accuracy would need to be conducted with the updated data, however, the format and general overview of the resources can remain the same.
Educating staff does not guarantee a decrease in suicides or suicidal attempts in people with a history of substance use, however, with increased confidence and knowledge, we hope that staff are able to identify clients at a high risk of suicidality and take action early on before any attempts on life occur.
References
Berardelli, I., Rogante, E., Sarubbi, S., Erbuto, D., Cifrodelli, M., Concolato, C., Pasquini, M., Lester, D., Innamorati, M., & Pompili, M. (2022). Is lethality different between males and females? Clinical and gender differences in inpatient suicide attempters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13309. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013309
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, June 17). Suicide data and statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html
Dragisic, T., Dickov, A., Dickov, V., & Mijatovic. (2015). Drug addiction as risk for suicide attempts. Mater socio-medica, 27(3), 188-191. https://doi.org/10.5455/msm.2015.27.188-191
Esang, M., & Ahmed, S. (2018). A closer look at substance use and suicide. American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal, 13(6), 6-8. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2018.130603
Hawley, S. R., Skinner, T., Young, M., Romain, T. S., Provines, J. (2024). Suicide prevention across the community: Evaluation of mental health training for multiple gatekeeper groups. Kansas Journal of Medicine, 17(6), 127-132. https://doi.org/10.17161/kjm.vol17.22524
Lopez-Goni, J. J., Fernandez-Montalvo, J., Arteaga, A., & Haro, B. (2018). Suicidal ideation and attempts in patients who seek treatment for substance use disorder. Psychiatry Research, 269, 542-548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.100
Poorolajal, J., Haghtalab, T., Farhadi, M., & Darvishi, N. (2016). Substance use disorder and risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and suicide death: A meta-analysis. Journal of Public Health, 38(3), e282–e291, https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdv148
Rizk, M. M., Herzog, S., Dugad, S., & Stanley, B. (2021). Suicide risk and addiction: The impact of alcohol and opioid use disorders. Current Addiction Reports, 8(2), 194–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-021-00361-
Feeling known: Microaggressions, belonging, and mental health among Asian American college students.
No full textThe study investigates discrimination, social belonging, religious coping, and mental health among Asian American college students. It examines whether social belonging and religious coping would buffer discrimination effects on mental health. An online survey was sent to 340 participants, aged 18 or above, identifying as Asian American. Data collection is currently underway, and findings will be shared at the conference. In sum, the research will illuminate coping mechanisms like belonging and religious coping within the Asian American community, potentially benefiting this population
Death anxiety, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress among frontline healthcare providers: Insights in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textFrontline healthcare providers (HCPs) faced elevated risk for post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined within-group variability among 54 frontline HCPs who completed self-report measures assessing their experiences during the pandemic. Half met criteria for provisional PTSD and/or insomnia (n = 27). ANOVA results indicated a large group effect on death anxiety and a medium group effect on perceived burdensomeness. HCPs endorsing elevated PTSS or insomnia symptoms during the pandemic may experience greater death anxiety and perceived burdensomeness than those without clinically significant symptoms
A comparative study of Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Narrative Therapy in addressing sexual intimacy issues within the couple system
No full textExisting research has demonstrated the potential of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Narrative Therapy (NT) in improving relational dynamics, including intimacy. The study aims to examine the comparative effectiveness and cost-efficiency of SFBT and NT in addressing sexual intimacy concerns among couples. 30 married couples will be randomly assigned to SFBT, NT, or control group. Each couple will participate in up to 10 therapy sessions, or fewer if treatment goals are met earlier. Measures will be provided at baseline, post-treatment, and at one- and six-month follow-ups. Findings will be interpreted to assess clinical effectiveness and long-term sustainability of each approach
Utilizing social determinants of health to predict efficacy of SFBT therapy in community mental health in urban environments.
No full textThe purpose of this study is to understand how social determinants of health (SDoH) predict efficacy of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). As relationship therapists, we ask, “Where are relationships in SDoH?” and “Is SFBT efficacy determined by SDoH?” As utilization of SFBT increases, it is essential to continue to assess the efficacy and limitations of SFBT. We seek to assess how SDoH inform the effectiveness of SFBT by measuring and evaluating SFBT in an urban community health setting where SDoH are predictive factors. Research methods used in this study include quantitative outcomes measured by likert scales and an approach that seeks to establish a replicable method for future studies. If the efficacy of SFBT is contingent on SDoH, then relationship therapists practicing SFBT will benefit from understanding how SFBT can be most effective, providing better understanding of limitations or strengths to best reach positive therapeutic outcomes
Guidelines for the Creation and Implementation of a School-Based Vision Program for the Greater Seattle Area
Full text linkProper vision care contributes to a child’s ability to perform academically as well as their overall health and wellbeing. Pediatric vision care begins with vision screening, which occurs in public schools in Washington state. These vision screenings allow for possible vision issues to be identified in children. They are not, however, a replacement for eye examinations that help determine what is causing the problem and provide treatment. A substantial proportion of children that are recommended to receive the exams will not, partially because Washington does not require parents to take their children to eye care professionals. These children are more likely to come from households that do not speak English as a primary language and/or are of a lower socioeconomic status. A school-based vision program in the Greater Seattle area would allow disparities in vision care to be addressed in public schools in the region. Creation of the program will require assessment of which schools would most benefit from the program, surveys of key stakeholders for insight on the community, recruitment of eye care professionals to provide eye examinations, and determination of how the costs of the program will be covered. Implementation of the program will require obtaining parental consent for children to participate, conduction of vision screenings and eye examinations, prescription, and provision of corrective lenses, and encouraging use of the lenses. To ensure long-term viability of the program, recurrent reassessment and revision of the program must occur in accordance with changes in best practices for pediatric vision care as well as demographic changes within the communities served and feedback provided by those that participate
Sexy in Scrubs: How the Media and Cultural Perception of Nurses Leads to Sexual Harassment and Violence in the Workplace
Full text linkWestern media has perpetuated society’s perspective of the nursing role through a sexual lens rather than a professional. Nurses face high levels of sexual harassment and violence, with some studies showing up to 80% of nurses experiencing some form of sexual harassment in the workplace at some point in their career. The relationship between the media’s sexualization of nurses has led to an increase in harassment and violence in the profession, as well as proliferating the stereotype of ‘sexy nurses.’ In this literature review, I examine both the media and cultural perception of the nurse and the data surrounding sexual harassment and violence towards nurses in the workplace. We know that workplace harassment can lead to increased rates of burnout and staff turnover, if the image of nursing is changed then we can create a healthier work environment with higher levels of job satisfaction and safety
Effects of cerebral tumor necrosis factor alpha on systemic glucose homeostasis in obese mice
Full text linkType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by impaired blood glucose regulation and persistent hyperglycemia. The central nervous system functions as a key regulator in the maintenance of peripheral normoglycemia. Obesity, commonly associated with T2DM, often leads to chronic inflammation in the hypothalamus, a critical brain center for integrating metabolic feedback and controlling outputs to peripheral organs. However, the physiological mechanisms through which obesity-induced brain inflammation affects glucose regulation remain somewhat unclear. Previous studies have linked one key pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), to metabolic function and glycemic control; however, the exact nature of its impacts on glucose homeostasis remains ambiguous. This study aims to further explore the role of hypothalamic TNF-α in glucose regulation using an obese rodent model
Lower Cross Syndrome in Female Rowers
Full text linkRowing is a full-body sport that requires technique, strength and speed, yet allows athletes to compete at all ages. The rowing stroke is completed sitting down with the hip flexors in a shortened position and lower back muscles activated. The combination of short and overactive muscles leads female rowers to be susceptible to lower cross syndrome and back pain. This study examined the prevalence of LCS in female rowers and the effect of PNF stretching of the hip flexors on the LCS. LCS was examined using a posture assessment and Thomas tests. A Biodex isokinetic dynamometer hip extension and flexion test was used to measure reciprocal inhibition of the gluteal muscles. All tests were performed before and after PNF stretching. Results showed that female rowers are likely to have LCS and symptoms can be improved through PNF stretching of the hip flexors