Supporting Males with Suicidal Ideation: Evaluation of an E-Learning for Healthcare Providers

OBJECTIVES: Suicide remains an important public health issue. Males are at increased risk for suicide, yet display reduced help-seeking, increased drop-out and less lasting engagement. Despite calls for more gender-responsive care, practical training for healthcare providers (HCPs) remains scarce. To address this gap, a training module (e-learning) was developed to support HCPs in offering gender-responsive suicide prevention care to males. This study aimed to evaluate changes in HCPs' self-efficacy and gender-responsive competencies, and their satisfaction with the training. METHOD: This pre-post trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06810713). A single-group pre-post design was used. HCPs completed questionnaires before and after completing the 30-60 minute e-learning module. The surveys assessed self-efficacy and gender-responsive competencies in supporting males experiencing suicidal ideation. In addition, participants evaluated the e-learning using Likert-scale items. RESULTS: A total of 109 HCPs participated, of whom 75 completed the posttest. Results showed statistically significant improvements in both self-efficacy and gender-responsive competencies with moderate to large effect sizes of d = 0.55 and d = 1.98. Participants evaluated the module positively (M = 8.0/10), with good evaluations of its content and format. The psychoeducational model on gender socialization and suicidality, as well as the downloadable summary sheets, were well received. CONCLUSIONS: The e-learning module significantly improved HCPs' confidence and gender-responsive competencies in working with males experiencing suicidal ideation. Given its self-paced, freely accessible online format, the training appears feasible and acceptable. Further research is needed to examine its long-term impact, behavioral outcomes in clinical practice, and applicability to more diverse male populations.