Enhancing mental health nursing students’ confidence in suicide awareness and prevention

Background Suicide is a significant global public health concern with far-reaching psychological and social consequences. In mental health nurse education, there is a recognised need for targeted experiential learning to enhance clinical competence, empathy and confidence in responding to suicidality. Aim To evaluate the effects of suicide first aid training on first-year mental health nursing students’ confidence and preparedness. Method Pre-training and post-training questionnaires were used to assess changes in the students’ self-reported confidence and clinical readiness. Findings The findings revealed a marked improvement in respondents’ confidence levels and emotional intelligence following the training, with qualitative feedback highlighting increased awareness, reduced stigma and strengthened capacity for compassionate care. Conclusion The findings suggest that targeted training on suicide awareness and prevention is a valuable component of preregistration education that can equip future nurses with the skills and emotional intelligence necessary to support individuals in suicidal crisis effectively.