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How can schools take action to prevent youth suicide?

Francisco Villar Cabeza
Dr. Francisco Villar Cabeza
Clinical Psychologist. Coordinator of the Care Program for Suicidal Behaviours in Minors
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona

Schools offer the greatest potential for impact on suicide prevention . They are the place where all the children in a community can be found, making them ideal for implementing universal prevention interventions (for everyone). Most studies evaluating the effectiveness of interventions have been conducted in schools, such as the EMPATHY Study and the SEYLE Study .

The potential is undeniable, but that's true of suicide and most of the difficulties children face (mistreatment, abuse, neglect, etc.). So, from my point of view, what would be questionable is asking teachers to do more than they already do. If I were in the field of education, I wouldn't be satisfied with just being given ideas on how to act; rather, I would invite social workers into my classrooms and have them do what is known to work.

I also recommend consulting the recent "Guide for the prevention and initial approach to suicidal behavior in educational centers in the Balearic Islands", which includes interesting resources and content.

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Francisco Villar Cabeza
Dr. Francisco Villar Cabeza
Clinical Psychologist. Coordinator of the Care Program for Suicidal Behaviours in Minors
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona
Cecilia Borrás
Cecilia Borrás
Psychologist. Founding President
Después del Suicidio – Asociación de Supervivientes (DSAS)