REACH Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Program

REACH Suicide Prevention Program

Program Type

Education or Training Program

Cost

$2,501 or more

Evidence Type

Empirically-Defined Evidence

SPRC Comprehensive Approach

Identify and Assist, Increase Help-Seeking, Connectedness

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Program or Intervention Summary

REACH is a 90-minute evidence-based in-person gatekeeper training that has been delivered to more than 38,000 adults across multiple settings, including university (students, staff, faculty) and healthcare (physicians, residents, nurses, medical staff) since 2011. Participants learn to recognize risk in colleagues, peers, and students, engage in hope-filled, empathetic conversations, and help those at-risk access care. REACH uses small groups (<30) to ensure a high-quality learning experience with opportunities for active learning and feedback, using a train-the-trainer model. REACH has a ‘no-electronics’ requirement allowing participants to be fully engaged as they learn and practice these life-saving skills. Trainers support, shape and refine skills during the required role play and monitor participants for potential distress. Results demonstrate more than 98% of those trained are confident, competent, and willing to engage. In medical settings, knowledge and skills are retained at two-year follow-up, and more than 50% have used skills learned to reach out and assist colleagues in distress.

Goals/Outcomes:
(1) Goal: Recognize suicide risk (Knowledge)
Outcomes: Epidemiological and population-specific knowledge

(2) Goal: Confidence to engage in empathetic outreach (Empathy/Confidence)
Outcomes: Confident to use empathy to connect to person in distress; Understand role of empathy

(3) Goal: Build self-efficacy through guided practice (Skills/Competence)
Outcomes: Able to recognize suicide risk; Able to ask directly; Competent to ask directly

(4) Goal: Recognize value of hope-filled connection to reduce stigma (Affective/Stigma Reduction)
Outcomes: Understand role of stigma; Recognize importance of asking directly; Able to use hope to make connection

(5) Goal: Know and can use national, local, and institution-specific resources (Resource-specific Knowledge & Skills)
Outcomes: Knowledge of and ability to use resources

(6) Goal: Recognize role in suicide prevention (Willingness/Engagement)
Outcomes: Belief that helping prevent suicide is important and personally relevant; Willing to ask about suicide

REACH uses a standardized core curriculum with additional information tailored to specific population. Participants receive a paper handout, certificate, and pin.

REACH
R: Recognize warning signs
E: Engage with empathy
A: Ask directly about suicide
C: Communicate hope
H: Help suicidal individual access care

Type Education or Training Program
Setting In-person
Audience Medical Professionals, Other
Languages English
Study Method Quantitative Design, Qualitative Design
Study Type Descriptive (cross-sectional), Correlational or survey, Focus groups, Other qualitative design
Implementer Requirement No Specific Individual or Group
Training Requirement Yes
Delivery Options In-Person
Risk and Protective Factors Stigma associated with help-seeking and mental illness

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