[Is it possible to run suicide prevention interventions within the school setting?]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Psychology
• Educational Psychology

Context:

• Suicide is a leading cause of death in Switzerland, with significant rates of attempts among adolescents.
• Current "universal" primary prevention programs in schools lack evidence of effectiveness and may even be detrimental.
• There's a critical need for evidence-based suicide prevention strategies within educational settings.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of different suicide prevention strategies in Swiss schools.
• To identify promising approaches beyond traditional universal prevention courses.
• To inform policy and practice regarding adolescent suicide prevention in schools.

Summary:

• Universal suicide prevention courses in schools are ineffective and potentially harmful.
• Training school professionals to identify and refer at-risk adolescents is a promising strategy.
• Enhancing school climate by fostering social connectedness and life skills, alongside post-suicide debriefing, are also recommended approaches.

Impact:

• Highlights the ineffectiveness of universal prevention, advocating for targeted interventions.
• Emphasizes the importance of professional training and a positive school environment for adolescent well-being.
• Provides evidence-based recommendations for schools to prevent suicide and mitigate contagion effects.