How Suicide Literacy and Self-Efficacy Influence the Empathy-Help Relationship

Background: Empathy plays a crucial role in motivating community engagement in suicide prevention. However, its relationship with helping behavior is not linear and can be influenced by moderating variables. Objective: This study examined the moderating role of self-efficacy and suicide-related knowledge (factual and perceived) in the relationship between empathy and the willingness to help. Method: Participants (N = 1,096) were recruited via social media and completed an online survey assessing sociodemographic data, empathy, willingness to help individuals at risk of suicide, intervention self-efficacy, and suicide-related knowledge (factual and perceived). Results: The moderation analyses showed that perceived knowledge is the main moderator of the relationship between empathy and willingness to help people at risk of suicide, with this association strengthening as perceived knowledge increases. Limitations: The cross-sectional design and use of convenience sampling restrict causal inference and reduce the generalizability of the findings. Conclusion: Multiple factors that shape the relationship between empathy and willingness to help in at-risk situations should be considered when developing intervention programs that promote empathy as a suicide prevention strategy.