Evaluating the SOS suicide prevention program: a replication and extension

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Education

Background:

• Suicide is a critical public health issue among US youth.
• School-based programs are primary for youth suicide prevention but often lack rigorous evaluation.
• The Signs of Suicide (SOS) program is a widely implemented school-based intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program in reducing suicidal behavior among high school students.
• To assess the program's impact on students' knowledge and attitudes toward depression and suicide.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 4133 students across 9 high schools.
• Students were assigned to either an intervention (SOS program) or control group.
• Data collected via self-administered questionnaires approximately 3 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The SOS intervention group showed significantly lower rates of suicide attempts.
• Students in the intervention group demonstrated increased knowledge and more adaptive attitudes regarding depression and suicide.
• Intervention effects were consistent across different races/ethnicities, grades, and genders.

Conclusions:

• The SOS program is a validated, universal school-based suicide prevention strategy.
• The study confirms SOS's effectiveness in reducing self-reported suicide attempts using a randomized design.
• SOS is effective for diverse high school populations, underscoring its value as a universal prevention program.