Assessing attitudes toward suicide: Validation of a Spanish instrument for nursing home staff and mental health students

Abstract

Suicide represents a significant global health concern. It is the third foremost cause of external mortality globally and the second leading cause of mortality in Spain, with rates showing a consistent upward trend. Older adults, especially those over 85, are particularly affected, emphasizing the need for enhanced prevention strategies. Despite existing tools to assess attitudes, reliable and culturally adapted instruments to evaluate training programs efficacy are lacking. This study aims to validate the Spanish version of the Suicide Behavioral Attitude Questionnaire (SBAQ), which evaluates healthcare professionals’ attitudes and competencies in suicide prevention.