Experiences and scientific evidence in the prevention of suicidal behavior among school youth

The deterioration in mental health and the associated increase in suicidal behavior observed among adolescents following the COVID-19 pandemic (Panchal et al. 2023) serve as a warning sign for public health professionals. This adverse situation persists, even though the pandemic ended several years ago. There is strong evidence that today’s youth are less resilient to stress and life’s difficulties than previous generations. Resilience mechanisms have been disrupted. The balance between risk and protection has likely been disrupted by the development of digital culture, which brings with it more new risk factors than protective factors. Young people’s lifestyles and the ways they gain life experience are changing. Social media and the feedback it provides are playing an increasingly significant role in shaping teenagers’ identities. Parents find it difficult to navigate this reality. They often lose their sense of confidence and do not know how to deal with their children or how to communicate with them.

Not all of reasons for the decline in mental health have been studied. But what we do know indicates that the younger generation is more susceptible to mood disorders and suicidal behavior. This points to implement evidence-based preventive measures in schools to address mental health problems, including suicidal behavior. Key elements of effective school-based suicide prevention include skillfully sensitizing young people’s awareness of mental health issues and motivating them to take proactive steps when they recognize signs of a mental crisis in themselves or their peers (Wassermann et al. 2015; Clark et al 2022). In many cases, young people notice worrying signs in their peers earlier than adults do. In our culture, these signs are often treated as manifestations of personal problems that each individual must resolve on their own. Education aims to foster more proactive attitudes. One approach is to teach three simple steps for responding in a mental or suicidal crisis. The first step is to recognize the warning signs of a crisis, the second is to express concern, and the third is to seek help from a professional or a trusted adult. Another method involves using screening tests for depression and suicidal tendencies. The results help young people assess how serious their problems are and whether they require professional help. The common thread linking these methods of suicide prevention is raising awareness among parents, teachers, and school professionals about the signs of a mental health crisis in adolescents. Their attitude and skills are crucial in preventing suicidal behavior among young people.

The symposium will focus on reports documented experiences with the implementation of school-based suicide prevention programs and on studies examining the effectiveness of these programs. Based on reports from several centers, we aim to examine the challenges faced by school-based prevention and analyze how to prepare program implementers and what conditions must be created in schools for the program to be effective. An important theme of the symposium will be gaining insight into the outcomes that can be achieved through a prevention program and the importance of scientific evidence of effectiveness in school-based prevention.