Online Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training for Secondary School Counselors

February 21, 2026 updated by: Tolga Köskün, Aydin Adnan Menderes University

Development and Examination of the Efficacy of an Online Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training Program for Psychological Counselors in Secondary Education Institutions

The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of the Online Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training Program (Çevrimiçi İntihar Önleme ve Müdahale Eğitim Programı - ÇİÖMEP) for school counselors working in secondary education. Suicide is a major public health concern among adolescents, and school counselors play a vital role in early identification and intervention. This research uses a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to determine if the training improves counselors' knowledge, perceived competence, and attitudes toward suicide prevention while reducing the stigma associated with suicidal behavior.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Currently working as a psychological counselor in secondary education institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Izmir, Turkey.
  • Hold a bachelor's degree in Psychology or Psychological Counseling and Guidance (PDR) from a higher education institution.
  • Possess the appropriate technical infrastructure to participate in online training (e.g., a stable internet connection, computer/tablet, and a private environment).
  • Willing to participate in the study voluntarily.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having lost a relative or close friend to suicide within the last year.
  • Having participated in a similar suicide prevention training program within the last 6 months.
  • Failure to attend a total of two or more training sessions during the intervention phase.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Online Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training Group
Participants in this group will receive the "Online Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training Program" online.
Behavioral: Online Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training Program (ÇİÖMEP)

This is an online training program designed for school counselors. It consists of 4 sessions held over 2 days. The training covers:

  1. Awareness: Understanding suicide myths, warning signs, and attitudes.
  2. Assessment: How to assess suicide risk in students and create safety plans.
  3. Intervention: Specific counseling techniques to help students who are at risk (e.g., instilling hope, problem-solving).
  4. Crisis Management: How to manage a crisis in school and what to do after a suicide occurs (postvention)
No Intervention: Waiting List Control Group
Participants in this group will not receive the training during the study. They will be placed on a waiting list. They will receive the same online training only after the study is completely finished.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Perceived Competency in Working with Suicide Behavior
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, and 3 months post-intervention.
Assessed using the "The Suicide Intervention Competency Scale" (İntihar Davranışı ile Çalışmada Yeterlilik Algısı Ölçeği). This scale is being developed as part of this study. It measures the counselor's self-perceived competency in suicide risk assessment, intervention techniques, and crisis management. As the scale is currently in the development phase, the final score range is yet to be determined; however, higher total scores will represent a higher level of perceived competency in suicide intervention.
Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, and 3 months post-intervention.
The Attitudes Toward Working with Suicide Behavior
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.
Assessed using the "The Attitudes Toward Working with Suicide Behavior Scale" (İntihar Davranışı ile Çalışmaya Yönelik Tutum Ölçeği). This scale is being developed to evaluate the willingness and beliefs of mental health professionals regarding suicidal behavior. As the scale is in the development phase, the final score range is not yet specified; higher total scores will indicate more negative attitudes and lower willingness toward working with suicidal individuals.
Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Suicide Knowledge Level
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.
Assessed using the "Suicide Knowledge Level Scale" (İntihara İlişkin Bilgi Düzeyi Ölçeği - İBDÖ), which is the Turkish version of the Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS). The scale evaluates knowledge across four domains: Symptoms, Causes/Triggers, Risk Factors, and Treatment/Prevention. It consists of 27 items, each evaluated on a 3-point Likert scale ("True", "False", or "Don't Know"). Total scores are calculated by summing the item scores and range from 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate a higher level of suicide-related knowledge.
Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.
Stigma Toward Suicide
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.
Assessed using the "Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS)" (İntihara Yönelik Damgalama Ölçeği - İYDÖ). This 55-item scale evaluates attitudes toward individuals who attempt suicide using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). It consists of three subscales: Stigma, Isolation/Depression, and Glorification/Normalization. Subscale scores are calculated as the average response to the items within each factor, meaning the score for each subscale ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores on a specific subscale (e.g., the Stigma subscale) indicate stronger stigmatizing attitudes or stronger agreement with that construct.
Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.
Gatekeeper Behaviors
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.
ssessed using the Gatekeeper Behavior Scale (GBS). This 11-item scale measures preparedness, likelihood, and self-efficacy regarding suicide prevention behaviors. Because the subscales use varying Likert points, raw scores are converted into a Percentage of Maximum Possible (POMP) score. The overall composite score is the average of these POMP scores, ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of engaging in gatekeeper intervention behaviors (such as identifying and referring students in distress)
Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.
General Attitudes Toward Suicide
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.
Assessed using the "Eskin Attitudes Toward Suicide Scale" (Eskin İntihara Karşı Tutumlar Ölçeği - E-İKTÖ). This 24-item scale measures general attitudes toward suicide using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Subscale scores are calculated by averaging the responses to the items under each relevant factor. Therefore, scores for each factor range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating a stronger presence of the specific attitude measured by that factor (e.g., higher acceptability of suicide)
Baseline, immediately after the 2-day intervention, 3 months post-intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Aydin Adnan Menderes University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 16, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 21, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • ADÜ-ETIK-16/13

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data üunderlying the results of this study will be shared. This includes demographic variables and de-identified assessment scores collected from the participating psychological counselors.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will become available beginning 6 months after the publication of the primary study results and will remain accessible for a period of 36 months.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Access to the de-identified data will be granted to qualified academic researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal, strictly for the purpose of meta-analysis or replicating study findings. To obtain the data, researchers must contact the principal investigator (Dr. Tolga Köskün) with email. A formal data sharing agreement will be required to ensure the continued protection of participant confidentiality.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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