Suicide prevention program (SPP) in South Asian Countries: A protocol for systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Suicide is a global crisis, claiming over 700,000 lives annually and being a leading cause of death for young adults.
• Suicide prevention programs (SPPs) are crucial for equipping gatekeepers to identify and intervene in potential suicide cases.
• South Asian countries face a significant burden of suicide, particularly among college students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs (SPPs) on gatekeepers' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in South Asia.
• To identify strategies for reducing suicide rates among college students in the region through enhanced gatekeeper capacity.
• To synthesize existing evidence on SPPs for gatekeepers in South Asian contexts.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines will be conducted.
• Interventional studies (controlled and uncontrolled) providing SPPs to gatekeepers will be included.
• Data will be sourced from Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL, with grey literature and reference searches.

Main Results:

• The review will synthesize findings on the impact of SPPs on gatekeeper knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
• Analysis will focus on the effectiveness of interventions in improving suicide risk identification and response.
• Results will highlight successful components of SPPs applicable to the South Asian college student population.

Conclusions:

• This review will provide critical insights into the effectiveness of SPPs for gatekeepers in South Asia.
• Findings will inform the development and implementation of targeted suicide prevention strategies for college students.
• The study aims to contribute to reducing suicide incidence through evidence-based gatekeeper training.