Exploring the Efficacy of Online Suicide Assessment Training in Counselor Education

ABSTRACT

An experimental design examining the efficacy of online suicide assessment training with counselor trainees was implemented to assess influence on a variety of related skills. Results from 2-factor mixed analyses of variance, Mann–Whitney U tests, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests partially supported the effectiveness of this method for improving suicide assessment skills, but challenged the use of online education for increasing trainees' suicide assessment skills.

KEYWORDS:

• Counselor education
• experimental design
• online education
• suicide assessment

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Neil P. Rigsbee

Neil P. Rigsbee is an assistant professor in the Counselor Education Department at Adams State University. He earned his PhD in Counselor Education at the University of New Mexico. His research interests include suicide assessment training in counselor education, veterans' issues, quantitative research design, and online pedagogy.

Kristopher M. Goodrich

Kristopher M. Goodrich, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the University of New Mexico, where he has taught since 2010. He completed his graduate education in the CACREP accredited counseling program at Syracuse University. Dr. Goodrich has written 44 peer reviewed journal articles, co-authored or co-edited 3 books, and has contributed 18 pieces to other publications. He is the current editor of the Journal for Specialists in Group Work. Dr. Goodrich is also a past president of the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling (2015–2016), and the immediate past president of the Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (RMACES).