Predicting Practitioners' Perceived Competency with Youths at Suicide Risk: Acute versus Chronic

Abstract Purpose: This study examined how perceived adequacy of training, workplace support, and professional experience contribute to practitioner self-efficacy and perceived competence in working with youths at risk of suicide across acute and chronic contexts. Methods: 237 practitioners with experience intervening with youths at suicide risk were surveyed. MLR was used to estimate direct effects alongside 5,000-resample bias-corrected bootstrapping to test mediation pathways. Results: Self-efficacy significantly mediated relationship between perceived adequacy of workplace support and perceived competence in both contexts, with stronger mediation observed under chronic risk. Years of intervention experience indirectly predicted competence through self-efficacy in both risk contexts. The indirect effect on perceived competency through self-efficacy, however, was only found in the acute risk context. Discussion: Training, workplace support, experience, and self-efficacy contribute differently to competence depending on suicide risk context, distinguishing between which can offer a more precise framework for professional support and development in youth suicide intervention.