Prevention of suicidal behavior in schools: Simulation-Based Teaching (SBT)*

Abstract

Adolescent suicide has increased in recent years, representing a global concern. Schools provide a conducive environment for identifying emotional distress and implementing actions aimed at promoting mental health and preventing suicidal behavior. Thus, this study aims to develop and validate a simulation-based teaching script for school community professionals on suicide prevention. The method involved developing and validating a simulation-based teaching script, a pedagogical approach designed to build specific skills among education professionals. To develop the script, a review of both national and international scientific literature on suicide prevention in schools was carried out. Experts in simulation and suicide prevention were invited to validate the script, selected through the Lattes Platform and the snowball sampling technique. Data collection was conducted by sending invitations via email with a hyperlink to the Research Electronic Data Capture form. Data were processed and analyzed using the STATAR Statistical Software. Descriptive statistical analysis, the content validity index (CVI), and Gwet’s First-order Agreement Coefficient (AC1) were used. The script achieved acceptability, agreement, and reliability criteria in the expert validation. This study provides a freely available script that can be used for simulation-based teaching, contributing to the ongoing education of school community professionals on mental health promotion and suicide prevention. It is recommended that future studies assess the script’s effects on professionals’ self-confidence.