Signs of Suicide (SOS) is a youth suicide prevention program that has demonstrated an improvement in students’ knowledge and adaptive attitudes about suicide risk and depression.
Designed for grades 6-12, SOS teaches students how to identify signs of depression and suicide in themselves and their peers, while providing materials that support school professionals, parents, and communities in recognizing at-risk students and taking appropriate action.
This program is approved for WV Expanded School Mental Health.
Last reviewed: 2023
Intended Outcomes:
- Decrease suicide and suicide attempts by increasing student knowledge and adaptive attitudes about depression
- Encourage personal help-seeking and/or help-seeking on behalf of a friend
- Reduce the stigma of mental illness and acknowledge the importance of seeking help or treatment
- Engage parents and school staff as partners in prevention through “gatekeeper” education
- Encourage schools to develop community-based partnerships to support student mental health
Continuum of Care:
Universal Prevention
Topic Areas:
Behavioral Health/Mental Health, Depression, Suicide
Ages:
Childhood (4-12), Teen/Adolescent (13-18)
Geographic Locations:
Rural, Urban
Delivery Settings:
School-Based
Cultural Considerations:
A balanced amount of the research involved diverse populations
Audience:
This program is for middle school students (ages 11-13), high school students (ages 13-17), teachers, and parents.
Credentials:
This program may be delivered by school counselors, social workers, psychologists, or classroom teachers.
Manuals:
Yes
Is Training Required?
No
Who can provide the required training?
While there is no training or certification required to start using SOS, there are virtual or in-person training workshops available nationally for schools or organizations seeking additional support. An annual license must be purchased. Please see the following link for more information: https://shop.mindwise.org/products/sos-ttt-2021
Program Costs (materials, training, etc.):
Yes, refer to program website
Program/Practice Website:
https://www.mindwise.org/sos-signs-of-suicide/
Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research:
Aseltine, R. H., James, A., Schilling, E., A., & Glanovsky, J. (2007). Evaluating the SOS suicide prevention program: A replication and extension. BMC Public Health, 7(161). DOI:10.1186/1471-2458-7-161
Aseltine, R. H., & DeMartino, R. (2004). An outcome evaluation of the SOS suicide prevention program. American Journal of Public Health, 94(3). 446-451.
Clark, K. N., Strissel, D., Malecki, C. K., Ogg, J., Demaray, M. K., & Eldridge, M. A. (2022). Evaluating the Signs of Suicide program: Middle school students at risk and staff acceptability. School Psychology Review, 51(3). 354-369. https://doi.org/10.1080/
Ogawa, S., Suzuki, H., Takahashi, T., Fujita, K., Murayama, Y., Sato, K., Matsunaga, H., Motohashi, Y., Fujiwara, Y. (2022). Suicide prevention program with cooperation from senior volunteers, governments, and schools: A study of the intervention effects of “Educational lessons regarding SOS output” focusing on junior high school students. Children, 9(541). https://doi.org/10.3390/
Schilling, E. A., Aseltine, R., & James, A. (2015). The SOS suicide prevention program: Further evidence of efficacy and effectiveness. Prevention Science, 17. 157-166. DOI 10.1007/s11121-015-0594-3
Schilling, E. A., Lawless, M., Buchanan, L., Aseltine, R. H. (2014). “Signs of suicide” shows promise as a middle school suicide prevention program. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 44(6). 653-667. DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12097
Volungis, A. M. (2020). The signs of suicide (SOS) prevention program pilot study: High school implementation recommendations. North American Journal of Psychology 22(3).
Additional Sources:
https://www.continuum.militaryfamilies.psu.edu/program/fact_sheet_831
https://sprc.org/online-library/1/
WV Rating:
Supported by Research
»WV Ratings Info
Rationale for Rating:
Multiple studies show that there were very specific, consistent outcomes for the program. These include: increased adaptive attitudes toward suicide and an increased knowledge of depression and suicide. These outcomes were strongest for high school populations and the older youth in the sample, ages 13+.
Contraindications or Concerns:
None identified
Other Registries/Ratings
The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare:
Not On Registry
Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development:
Not On Registry
Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness:
Unclear +
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs Guide:
Not On Registry
Washington State Institute for Public Policy:
Not On Registry