Engaging in Lethal Means Safety (ELMS): An Evaluation of a Suicide Prevention Means Safety Training Program for...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Research
• Suicidology

Background:

• Firearm-related suicide is a leading, preventable cause of death in the US.
• Clinical screening for firearm access is infrequent.
• Clinicians often lack training in lethal means safety counseling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Engaging in Lethal Means Safety (ELMS) program.
• To assess training for mental health first responders on discussing firearm access and storage.
• To measure changes in knowledge, confidence, comfort, and intent to counsel on means safety.

Main Methods:

• The study utilized a pretest, posttest, and one-month follow-up design.
• Participants were mental health first responders trained in the ELMS program.
• Assessments measured knowledge, confidence, comfort, and intent related to lethal means safety.

Main Results:

• All measured constructs (knowledge, confidence, comfort, intent) significantly improved immediately post-training.
• Confidence levels were sustained at the one-month follow-up.
• Comfort and intent to counsel decreased at follow-up but remained above pretraining levels.

Conclusions:

• The ELMS program shows promise in enhancing clinicians' ability to address lethal means safety.
• Booster sessions are recommended to maintain training effects.
• Further research with a treatment control group is encouraged to validate findings.