| Abstract [eng] |
Problem statement. Gatekeepers in the suicide prevention are individuals who regarding their job specific or interests may contact with those, who belong to the risk group. Medical professionals are also called gatekeepers. It is known that doctors’ attitudes often concern ignorance, incomprehension, rejection, avoidance to take responsibility (Herron, 2001). Lithuanian doctors have similar attitudes. A. Lošakevičius (2005) considers if personnel of first aid hospital lacking accurate knowledge and being sceptical about possibilities of suicide prevention can render effective help to those, who are in the suicide crises. One of the methods, how we can change attitudes towards suicide – is suicide prevention training. There are few researches whose investigate the effectiveness of suicidological training, and the results are not homologous. So we can not educe enough generalized conclusions about their effectiveness. Objective: To evaluate the long – term effectiveness of suicide prevention trainings in changing attitudes towards suicide. Methods. Participants of this research – 48 specialists of the primary section: policemen, personnel of the first aid station and employee of the general help centre. These specialists participated in four (for the duration of 8 hours) seminars, where information about suicide prevention, intervention and postvention was presented. Before and 5–10 months after the training participants have completed questionnaire ATTS (Attitudes towards Suicide). Results. Suicide prevention trainings organised in this research were less effective than other investigated in Lithuania: knowledge and attitudes towards suicide had no statistical significant difference after trainings. Still we see some important tendencies of change in the suicide prevention: participants improved their knowledge about suicide, it is considered as less acceptable way of acting, specialists better understand the importance of development of psychological help and consolidation of interpersonal relationship in the suicide prevention. |
