Efficacy of a localized caregiver gatekeeper training program for suicide prevention among Chinese adolescents: A pilot study

Gatekeeper programmes seldom focus on caregivers, even though they are on the frontline of adolescent suicide prevention. In this pilot, caregivers completed the Chinese Life Gatekeeper Training Programme, which covered risk recognition, suicide communication, safety planning and referral skills. Suicide literacy (LOSS), stigma (SOSS), perceived competence and willingness to intervene (WIS) were assessed at baseline, immediately after training and at one month follow-up. Linear mixed-effects models adjusted for sex, socioeconomic status and marital status showed significant post-training gains in suicide literacy (β = 2.833, p <.001) and reductions in stigma (β = −4.50, p <.001); literacy remained higher at follow‑up (β = 2.199, p <.001). Caregivers also successfully identified and referred at‑risk adolescents, and overall training satisfaction was high. These results indicate that a culturally adapted, gatekeeper programme is feasible, acceptable and effective for enhancing key caregiver competencies in suicide prevention among Chinese adolescents. Larger controlled studies with extended follow-up are needed to confirm and extend these findings.