The Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents in the United States. In recent years there has been increased attention given to suicide and suicidal ideation. It is no secret that depression, self-harming behavior, and suicidal ideation can have a negative impact on social, cognitive, and academic functioning. This pilot study looks at and analyzes the implementation of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program in a suburban high school in Rochester, NY. The study is designed to assess if student knowledge and attitudes towards depression and suicidal ideation changed as a result of the program. The program was implemented in two sections of health class in the fall of 2015. Previous research on suicide education have found that comprehensive prevention education have increased student knowledge and attitudes. This suggests that the SOS program has the potential to have beneficial impact on students’ knowledge and attitudes about depression and suicide. In order to gain a clearer sense of the programs benefits additional research would be necessary.