Prospective School Psychologists’ Field-Based Training Related to Suicidality: A Preliminary Exploration of Student and Supervisor Perspectives

Abstract

School psychologists are charged with an important role in suicide prevention efforts targeting child and adolescent populations, yet prior research indicates that these professionals receive limited training in the assessment and management of youth suicidality, as well as postvention. In the current study, 27 school psychology graduate students/ alumni and 45 field-based supervisors (N = 72) completed surveys regarding the nature of suicide-related training experiences provided to students during advanced-level fieldwork. Results revealed extensive variability in training experiences across placement settings (clinical vs. school), school levels (elementary vs. secondary), and suicide-specific tasks. In general, field-based opportunities to develop competencies in preventing and managing suicidal crises and handling the aftermath of a completed suicide were not guaranteed. Students tended to receive greater exposure to activities involving suicide risk assessment than intervention and postvention. Recommendations are offered to help trainers and field-based supervisors improve the suicide-related training of individuals pursuing a degree in school psychology.