Suicide prevention for youth--a mental health awareness program: lessons learned from the Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) intervention study

Camilla Wasserman, Christina W Hoven, Danuta Wasserman, Vladimir Carli, Marco Sarchiapone, Susana Al-Halabí, Alan Apter, Judit Balazs, Julio Bobes, Doina Cosman, Luca Farkas, Dana Feldman, Gloria Fischer, Nadja Graber, Christian Haring, Dana Cristina Herta, Miriam Iosue, Jean-Pierre Kahn, Helen Keeley, Katja Klug, Jacklyn McCarthy, Alexandra Tubiana-Potiez, Airi Varnik, Peeter Varnik, Janina Ziberna, Vita Poštuvan, Camilla Wasserman, Christina W Hoven, Danuta Wasserman, Vladimir Carli, Marco Sarchiapone, Susana Al-Halabí, Alan Apter, Judit Balazs, Julio Bobes, Doina Cosman, Luca Farkas, Dana Feldman, Gloria Fischer, Nadja Graber, Christian Haring, Dana Cristina Herta, Miriam Iosue, Jean-Pierre Kahn, Helen Keeley, Katja Klug, Jacklyn McCarthy, Alexandra Tubiana-Potiez, Airi Varnik, Peeter Varnik, Janina Ziberna, Vita Poštuvan

Abstract

Background: The Awareness program was designed as a part of the EU-funded Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) intervention study to promote mental health of adolescents in 11 European countries by helping them to develop problem-solving skills and encouraging them to self-recognize the need for help as well as how to help peers in need.

Methods: For this descriptive study all coordinators of the SEYLE Awareness program answered an open-ended evaluation questionnaire at the end of the project implementation. Their answers were synthesized and analyzed and are presented here.

Results: The results show that the program cultivated peer understanding and support. Adolescents not only learned about mental health by participating in the Awareness program, but the majority of them also greatly enjoyed the experience.

Conclusions: Recommendations for enhancing the successes of mental health awareness programs are presented. Help and cooperation from schools, teachers, local politicians and other stakeholders will lead to more efficacious future programs.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Awareness program timeline in the SEYLE study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Booklet cover pages (English and Slovene booklets).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Reasons for appreciation of the awareness program. Due to the fact that the Awareness coordinators responses were compiled into theme clusters the charts show the number of compiled responses and not the percentage of responses.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Proposed modifications of the awareness program. Due to the fact that the Awareness coordinators responses were compiled into theme clusters the charts show the number of compiled responses and not the percentage of responses.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Organisational efforts and general satisfaction.

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Source: PubMed

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