Online Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training for Secondary School Counselors

The Perceived Competency in Working with Suicide Behavior

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.

The Attitudes Toward Working with Suicide Behavior

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.

Suicide Knowledge Level

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.

Stigma Toward Suicide

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.

Gatekeeper Behaviors

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)

General Attitudes Toward Suicide

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)