Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intended Use of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline among a Sample of LGBT University Students

Among college students, 6.6% reported serious thoughts of suicide, 2.2% suicide plans, and 1.1% attempted suicide in the past year with LGBT youth reporting more suicide ideation and attempts.  Crisis hotlines are “services [that] play an important role in providing timely care to patients with high suicide risk”.  When studying adolescents’ attitudes and use of crisis service hotlines, Gould et al. found very low utilization (2.1%); those most needing having the strongest objections to calling a hotline. No research exists regarding LGBT students’ knowledge, and utilization, of Suicide Prevention Lifeline (SPL); this study will shed light into this topic.

Research questions: Among a sample of LGBT college students: 1) To what extent are suicidal thoughts and attempts reported; 2) What is knowledge of the SPL; 3) For what circumstances would participants use the SPL; and 4) For what circumstances is the SPL perceived most helpful? Methods: Permission to collect data was given by the university's Institutional Review Board.  Email invitations to complete the online survey were sent to a random sample of 1236. Participants were asked to complete the “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intended Use of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Survey”.  Data will be collected in February 2015. Results: Forthcoming. Conclusions: Forthcoming. Implications: Understanding the knowledge of, and likelihood to use, the SPL among LGBT students will inform health education specialists and other professionals in developing effective communication strategies to promote the SPL and persuade at-risk individuals to utilize this prevention resource.