Center Events

Suicide Prevention Delivered by High School Peer Leaders: Phases of Research Evaluating the Sources of Strength Intervention
Peter A. Wyman, University of Rochester

Thursday, October 11, 2012
12:00-1:00pm
Beebe Hall, 2nd floor conference room

Lunch will be served. This talk is open to all. Metered parking is available in the Plantations lot across the road from Beebe Hall.

Peer opinion leaders are used widely in prevention of substance abuse and HIV risk behaviors but not yet in suicide prevention. This talk will describe the rationale for Sources of Strength, which trains diverse student peer leaders to change social-ecological protective factors associated with reduced suicidal behavior at a high school population level, working with adult mentors. Several phases of research will be described including an initial trial testing the concept, a study testing alternative peer leader messaging activities with peer groups, and an ongoing trial funded by NIMH involving 34 high schools and 14,000 high school students that includes extensive social network analysis.

Peter A. Wyman, PhD, is Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Director of the School and Community-Based Prevention Laboratory. Wyman's primary focus is developing and testing community-based preventive interventions designed to strengthen well-being in children and adolescents, particularly those underserved by traditional mental health services.

The paper associated with this talk: An Outcome Evaluation of the Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program Delivered by Adolescent Peer Leaders in High Schools