The Finnish Suicide Competency Assessment Form among mental health providers

The Suicide Competency Assessment Form-Revised (SCAF-R) has only been used in English-speaking samples. The present study tested psychometric properties of the Finnish Version (SCAF-FV), a translated version of the original instrument. Finnish mental health providers and trainees (N = 101) completed an online survey assessing demographics, suicide prevention competencies, social desirability, and responses to a brief vignette. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a single-factor SCAF-FV structure with high internal consistency. Supporting its validity, the SCAF-FV showed a significant association with years of clinical experience, and was unrelated to socially desirable responding. However, the SCAF-FV was unrelated to suicide knowledge and did not predict provider decisions about a mock patient.