Feasibility of a School-Based Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Intervention and an Implementation Intervention (Project ROS): Study Protocol

BACKGROUND: Despite the high risk of suicidal behaviour in youth, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions within school settings for those who are at increased risk. The Project ROS (in Realise, Convince and Refer in Danish Realiser, Overbevis og Send videre) will train teaching staff and implement QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), a suicide prevention gatekeeper intervention supported by an implementation intervention at specialised schools (FGU) in Denmark.

AIM: To determine the feasibility of delivering school-based QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) gatekeeper training, supported by an implementation intervention based on evidence-based implementation strategies.

METHODS: A two-phase case study with a feasibility hybrid evaluation design. The evaluation will include a multimethod approach including pre-, post- and follow-up survey measurements, field observations and semi-structured single and focus group interviews.

DISCUSSION: A multimethod design will be used to validate the results. The use of methodological triangulation will help to reduce bias and deficiencies compared to using a single-method design.