Abstract
Suicide continues to be a problem impacting all types of people including the individuals suffering, families and communities bereaved by suicide, and the loss of potential and contribution to society. This study aimed to address the impact of the suicide training: Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) among students at California State University, Sacramento. Among the 586 students at CSUS from varied disciplines, the study assessed the changes in knowledge, readiness and understanding of suicide and prevention through pre and post surveys before and after the QPR training. The study findings showed statistically significant increases in knowledge about suicide and how to respond, views toward responding and likelihood, as well as overall understanding of suicide and prevention. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of the training and provided evidences and justification for gatekeeper training the future. The study also examined the change among individuals facing unique challenges, as well as their personal experience with suicide compared to their respective counterparts. Among groups facing unique challenges, statistically significant increases with all categories, with the exception of views on appropriateness to ask about suicide in particular groups. The study found that groups facing unique challenges had more experiences with suicide than their respective counterparts. The research suggested students’ interaction with suicide and risks attributed to their exposure and experience. Overall, the study further echoed the urgency for increased training and education around suicide and prevention and QPR as an effective method in achieving goals.