Unlocking School Nurses' Capacity for Suicide Risk Screening: Implications for Multitiered System of Supports.

BACKGROUND

School nurses play an important role in identifying students at risk for suicide, yet their screening methods remain understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine the methods of suicide risk screening used by school nurses, evaluate how district-level integration of school nurses into suicide prevention policies is associated with screening methods, and assess associations between screening methods, self-efficacy, and referral-making.

METHODS

Data were derived from a national cross-sectional, correlational study examining school nurses' roles in youth suicide prevention (N = 578).

RESULTS

School nurses whose responsibilities were explicitly defined in district suicide prevention policies were more likely to use standardized screening questions. In a separate analysis, use of standardized screening questions was indirectly associated with a greater number of referrals to community-based services through higher screening self-efficacy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY: District-level integration of school nurses into suicide prevention policies may strengthen school nurses' capacity to identify and refer students at risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Within a multitiered system of supports (MTSS) framework, integrating school nurses into suicide prevention efforts may strengthen coordinated, equitable approaches to identifying and responding to students at risk for suicide.