This week’s article analyzes a training program for suicide prevention among the public
mental health workers in Queensland, Australia. Most training in this department solely
focuses on advancing an individual’s current understanding and abilities. However, this
excludes the overall effect it has on the community. The implemented intervention explores
the effectiveness of a standard training model versus an enhanced training model for suicide
prevention. The purpose of this intervention is to have a wide range of connections and
sources to improve the mental health program. The standard training model is a one-day
seminar that discusses evidence-based strategies for mental health workers (Donald et al.,
2013). Whereas the enhanced training model, following the organizational development
approach, focuses on the bigger picture concentrating on professional networking in order to
improve strategies and policies for the community.
According to Donald et al. (2013), the organizational development model is made of six
factors:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Participation of early-adopters
Strengthening opportunity for deep learning
Opportunity to practice skills while in a supported context
Creation of learning networks
An extended period of support from the training team
The advancement of a supportive organizational infrastructure
Having this multi-component organizational development model and incorporating a
network among other mental health care professionals will keep each other up-to-date on
current studies and information, improve service, and even provide opportunities for referral
procedures (Donald et al., 2013). The level of evaluation is based on an organizational level.
The results were based on a pre-test post-test training program evaluation taken at
three different times. Based on Fig. 3, it shows that those part of the organizational
development model has a higher mean number of correct knowledge responses and a higher
mean number of organizational links—client referral, case conferencing, liaison and support,
information exchange and training, and local planning. by the 3-month follow-up. Although
there were some limitations as part of this study, the multi-component organizational model
has many benefits for coordinated care, health promotion, illness prevention, and overall
sustainability through professional networks (Donald et al, 2013).
References:
Donald, M., Dower, J., & Bush, R. (2013) Evaluation of a Suicide Prevention Training Program for Mental Health
Services Staff. Community Mental Health J, 49, 86-94.
Responses:
Gabriell Stewart
Friday, Jan 18 at 3:56pm
Hello Kathy,
Great explanations of each intervention. I also assessed that the Standard training focused on
individual level and that the Organizational Training focused on the organizational level. In
addition, I found the organizational training had a focus on the individual and the community
level.
In Figure 3, did you notice that the Standard training showed a few positive impacts? I was not
expecting any positive impacts,but was surprised to see them. I concluded that the impact
could have come from individual organizations that had ongoing support for the
implementation of the new strategies, but due to there not being collectivism among multiple
organizations the impact was diminished. What were your thoughts?
Katherine Velasco
Friday, Jan 18 at 6:32pm
Gabby,
I, too, was surprised to see a few positive impacts that the standard training had--case
conferencing and liason and support. I had the same thought process as you--ongoing cases
and support. Although this increase in case conferencing was not only a significant impact but
also was not one of the main focuses of the training program. It made sense that those results
were within a small range of each other.
Huey-Tsyh Chen
Saturday, Jan 19 at 4:03pm
It looks like training alone may not enough to sustain positive impacts. Do you agree?
Dr. Chen,
I don’t agree training alone will have a substantial help. Although any type of
training will help, programs must rely on other resources—other organizations, practices,
and even mental healthcare providers.