A Social-Emotional Learning Program for Suicide Prevention through Animal-Assisted Intervention

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Adolescent Health
• Animal-Assisted Interventions

Background:

• Suicidal behavior is a significant concern in adolescents.
• Young people with high-risk factors require innovative prevention strategies.
• Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) offer a novel therapeutic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot and evaluate the OverCome-AAI program for preventing suicidal behavior in high-risk adolescents.
• To assess the program's impact on suicidal ideation, self-harm, and mental distress.
• To determine the program's effect on help-seeking behaviors and indicators of hopelessness and depression.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 30 adolescents (ages 14-17) with high suicide risk factors.
• Implementation of the OverCome-AAI program utilizing animal-assisted interventions.
• Pre- and post-intervention assessments of suicidal ideation, suicide plans, non-suicidal self-harm, mental pain, hopelessness, and depression.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and non-suicidal self-harm were observed.
• Participants showed a greater predisposition to seek help after the intervention.
• A reduction in the intensity of mental pain was noted, but no significant changes in hopelessness or depression indicators.

Conclusions:

• The OverCome-AAI program demonstrates preliminary effectiveness in reducing suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-harm in at-risk adolescents.
• Animal-assisted interventions may be a valuable tool for suicide prevention in youth within residential care settings.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore long-term effects.