Universal Safety Planning for Suicide Prevention: CODE RED Initial Feasibility and Acceptability

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Interventions
• School Psychology

Background:

• Suicide rates have risen in the U.S. in recent decades.
• School-based suicide prevention programs are increasingly recognized for their effectiveness.
• There is a need for upstream, proactive mental health interventions in educational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the CODE RED suicide prevention training.
• To assess adult school personnel's perceptions of the CODE RED intervention.
• To determine the initial impact of CODE RED as a proactive suicide prevention strategy.

Main Methods:

• Adult school personnel (n=201) participated in the CODE RED training.
• Participants completed validated surveys measuring acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility (AIM, IAM, FIM).
• Qualitative thematic analysis was used for open-ended responses.

Main Results:

• High scores were reported for acceptability (18.0), appropriateness (17.9), and feasibility (18.0) on standardized measures (out of 20).
• Open-ended feedback indicated significant satisfaction with the training.
• Participants found the intervention applicable, appealing, and easy to use.

Conclusions:

• CODE RED is a highly acceptable and feasible suicide prevention intervention for school personnel.
• The training is perceived as a valuable tool for proactive mental health support in schools.
• Further research should examine youth utilization and effectiveness in crisis situations.