Evaluating the effectiveness of a post-training enhancement to the LifeKeepers suicide prevention programme across three training modalities: A randomised control trial.

Intervention A post-training enhancement to LifeKeepers - New Zealand’s national suicide prevention training programme. There is wide support in the literature demonstrating suicide prevention gatekeeper training programmes increase participants knowledge about suicide and confidence to identify and support someone who may be at risk of suicide immediately post training. However, the observed gains appear to diminish over time. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed enhancement to the LifeKeepers suicide prevention training programmes to maintain participants long-term retention of declarative knowledge about suicide, their self-efficacy (confidence) to apply the skills and their willingness to support someone at risk of suicide (questioning and referral behaviours). The enhanced programme includes participants engaging in one of the usual LifeKeepers training programmes, but this will be augmented with additional suicide related information provided to participants regularly post-training. The LifeKeepers programme consists of three separate training modalities – a General face-to-face workshop, and Indigenous face-to-face workshop for Maori (Mana Akiaki) and web-based elearning training modules. All three training modalities will be included in the study. Study participants in the intervention group will receive a 1- 2 page information sheet, designed specifically for this study, reinforcing key messages from the training content. These 1-2 page information sheets will be sent to participants every two months post training via automated email for a 12-month period. The first information sheet will be sent 8 weeks following the completion of the training. Participants will receive a total of 5 different information sheets over this period: sheet 1 focuses on common myths and misunderstandings about suicide sheet 2 examines risk and protective factors sheet 3 looks at warning signs linked to suicide sheet 4 reinforces the LifeKeepers C.A.R.E model (connecting, ask, respond and engage) sheet 5 focus on community supports options available The automated emails will be administered via Le Va (a Non-Government Organisation) who deliveries the LifeKeepers programmes throughout New Zealand and is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Health. Participants receive email reminders to encourage completion of post-training assessments. All three LifeKeepers training programmes consist of 5 modules covering: 1. How to talk responsibly about suicide and understanding the facts related to suicide 2. the risk and protective factors associated with suicide 3. How to identify the warning signs for when someone may be at risk of suicide 4. Learn the skills and build the confidence to intervene safety with individuals at risk of suicide. 5.Learn what to do in an emergency and what services are available. The face-to-face workshops are a full days training and the 5 online e-learning modules can be completed at the participants own pace and generally take between 2-3 hrs to complete in one sitting. The trainings are co-facilitated by trained Le Va staff and external contractors. A psychologist or trained mental health professional attends each workshop as a facilitator or support person.