Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Background: Pharmacists regularly encounter individuals experiencing suicidal distress. However, suicide prevention education is not routinely offered to pharmacy students. This study evaluated (i) the impact of a suicide prevention workshop on students' attitudes and perceived competence in suicide prevention and; (ii) the feasibility of embedding such training into pharmacy curricula. Methods: A pre-post survey was conducted with students enrolled in the final year of a Pharmacy programme in Ireland. A three-hour suicide prevention workshop was delivered as part of their Clinical Pharmacy module. Workshop content included suicide epidemiology, risk and protective factors, communication and safety planning, and student personal wellbeing. Quantitative outcomes measured included changes in perceptions of suicide prevention importance and competence and workshop acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness. Results: < 0.001). Post-workshop perceptions were positive, with mean scores of 28.81/30 for acceptability, 13.56/15 for feasibility, and 21.78/25 for appropriateness. Students supported continued inclusion of the content within the programme, with most indicating a preference to receive such training earlier. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that suicide prevention education improves pharmacy students' perceived readiness to respond to individuals at risk of suicide. The workshop was successfully embedded within the pharmacy curriculum, and viewed positively by students, who strongly supported continued curricular inclusion. Suicide prevention education represents an important consideration for current and future pharmacy training.
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,140
Funder: Health Service Executive
OpenAlex ID: W7204902991