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Analyzing the Impact of UMatterĀ® Suicide Prevention Training on Vermont Organizations
Bidgood, Kate Carp, Alex Goli, Savan Gregorek, Sidney Guzman, Chris Lim, Mackenzie Kripa, Harper
Bidgood, Kate
Carp, Alex
Goli, Savan
Gregorek, Sidney
Guzman, Chris
Lim, Mackenzie
Kripa, Harper
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Abstract
Background: Suicide has been one of the leading causes of death across the United States and particularly in rural communities where low usage of resources points to a need for better outreach and access to care within the population. Previous efforts have illustrated the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs in supporting at-risk populations and reducing rates of suicide. Our aim is to assess the impact of the UMatterĀ® Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills Training (SPAST) program on attitudes and interventions related to further suicide prevention efforts for participating organizations.
Methods: We developed an interview guide consisting of demographic, binary, Likert scaled, and open-ended questions, and conducted interviews with Vermont-based organizations who completed the UMatterĀ® SPAST training during 2024-2025. Responses were analyzed to identify qualitative themes.
Results: Six interviews were conducted and analyzed. Qualitative analysis identified three main themes: positive effects on beliefs and attitudes related to suicide prevention, increased interest in having more staff trained, and time as a barrier to implementing changes in their organization. An assessment of our Likert-scaled questions (n=6) highlighted participant confidence and comfort regarding asking about suicide but less so about identifying community resources.
Conclusion: The UMatterĀ® SPAST suicide prevention training positively impacts organizationsā confidence surrounding mental health and suicide prevention. The primary organization intervention was an increased interest in suicide prevention by having more staff be trained. Identified barriers to further suicide prevention efforts are time and awareness of resources within the community. This project highlights the importance of community-based suicide prevention efforts.
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2026-01-28
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Center for Health and Learning