Perceptions of Friends of College Students with Suicidal Crises in South Korea: Factors Affecting Gatekeeping Behavior

The purpose of this study was to explore facilitators and barriers that influence gatekeeping behaviors toward people in suicide crisis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 college students who experienced friends' suicidal events. A constant comparative method was used to analyze the data. 10 themes were found across facilitators, barriers, or ambivalent factors. Anticipated guilt, compassion, availability of social support, and presence of a cooperative group were identified as facilitators that promote gatekeeping behaviors. On the other hand, numbness and exhaustion due to repeated suicidal crises, lack of information on gatekeeping, helplessness, distrust in mental health services, and logistical constraints were classified as barriers to gatekeeping. Lastly, gatekeepers' prior suicidality was identified as an ambivalent factor to gatekeeping behaviors. The findings indicated that gatekeepers' feelings and accessible social support have a great impact on gatekeeping behaviors.