Date of Award

Summer 8-1-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Applied Clinical and Educational Studies

First Advisor

Alyce Hopple

Second Advisor

Carrie Ball

Third Advisor

Michael Martynowicz

Abstract

This study utilized an online survey to target primary caregivers of a child aged 5-18. The survey highlighted factors regarding caregiver involvement in suicide prevention efforts, such as their knowledge, comfort and confidence intervening with a youth experiencing suicidality, and barriers to doing so. It was found that caregivers who had experienced suicide prevention training reported higher levels of comfort and confidence intervening with their own child and another child than those who had not, as well as lower levels of worry. Higher levels of education were also found to predict lower levels of worry, suggesting that further training and education may lead to individuals being less worried about intervening with youth experiencing suicidality. Furthermore, caregivers were able to identify common resources available for youth experiencing suicidality (i.e., emergency service, crisis hotlines, and mental health professionals).

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