Trauma-informed school-based prevention services: Support to students following a suicide death

This paper highlights the role of school social workers and other school-based mental health professionals in postvention activities, supports and services provided by the school following a student’s suicide death. Reflecting the traumatic nature of the unexpected death of a student in the school community, the described postvention activities use SAMHSA’s trauma-informed principles to frame […]

Secondary principals’ perceptions and practices for implementing student suicide prevention programs

We explored secondary school principals’ knowledge of suicide prevention programs, their perceptions of the logistical and cultural barriers associated with suicide prevention program adoption, and their justification for  adopting (or not adopting) suicide prevention programs in their schools. Principals, as positional leaders of schools, can lead the adoption and support of school-based suicide prevention programs […]

Supporting the mental health of Alberta’s refugee students

Supporting the Mental Health of Alberta’s Refugee Students is intended to • build your understanding of the refugee experience; • help you understand trauma and its role in the refugee experience, including the emotional and cognitive impacts of forced migration and other traumatic experiences; • build your capacity in attending to the needs of refugee […]

Supports for university counselors impacted by student suicide: A systematic review and thematic synthesis

The purpose of this systematic review and thematic synthesis was to identify and consolidate research on the support needs of impacted Higher Education (HE) counselors that have experienced a student suicide death. When exposed to a student suicide death, counselors are often extensively involved in a postvention response. This systematic review synthesized four qualitative papers […]

Suicidal ideation and behavior among Mexican university students before and during the COVID-10 pandemic

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of populations around the world, but few longitudinal studies of its impact on suicidal thoughts and behaviors have been published especially from low- and middle-income countries. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 1,385 first-year students from 5 Universities in Mexico followed-up for 1 year. We report […]

Prevalence of suicidal behavior among students in South-East Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Estimation of rates of suicidal behaviors (ideation, plan, and attempt) would help to understand the burden and prioritize prevention strategies. However, no attempt to assess suicidal behavior among students was identified in South-East Asia (SEA). We aimed to assess the prevalence of suicidal behavior (ideation, plan, and attempt) among students in SEA. Methods: We followed PRISMA […]

Development of a suicide prevention training module for social work students in India

Introduction Social workers constitute a significant task force that serves diverse populations experiencing psychosocial challenges in their daily lives. Lack of suicide prevention content/training in the Master of Social Work program may affect the student’s self-esteem/ability to intervene when they come across a person with suicidality in the field. Developing a suicide prevention training module […]

Awareness of causes and strategies for prevention of suicide among tertiary school students in Anambra State, Nigeria

This study was on awareness of causes and strategies for prevention of suicide among tertiary school students from Anambra State Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study and descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population of the study was 84,610 students from the four Government owned tertiary schools in Anambra State. The […]

Global comparison of student mental health (IN Education in China and the World, edited by L. Niancai, F. Zhuolin & W. Qi)

Student mental health is vital to the growth of students and there have been continuous efforts made in improving student mental health in China. This chapter aims to introduce the overall Chinese students’ mental health condition as well as the relevant practices and policies that support student mental health. Next, the highlighting data section compares […]

Risk factors associated with adolescent suicidality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective To evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on youth suicidal behaviors. Method This study examined two national surveys of high school students, the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES). Results The YRBS 2019 had 13,677 entries: 18.6% (17.5–19.8) (weighted percentage and 95% […]

Educational agents and institutions called into action in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention

Introduction: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the 15 to 29 age group worldwide, and is a severe public health problem. Adolescent and young adult individuals attend educational institutions which can play an essential role in detecting and preventing suicide. For this reason, the purpose of this research is to identify what educational […]

Teachers facing the suicidal behavior among adolescent students: Perceptions and interventions

This research sought to analyze the interventions of integrated high school teachers when they perceived suicidal behavior in students. Therefore, a field research was developed, with a qualitative approach and applied nature, with 12 permanent professors from a federal educational institution. Data were  collected using an electronic form (Google Forms) and analyzed through content analysis. […]

Suicide ideation and behavior and ATOD use among bisexual high school students

Background Research has indicated that sexual minorities have higher prevalence rates for ATOD use and suicide ideation and behavior compared to heterosexual youth. Yet, most studies to date have combined gay, lesbian, and bisexuals into one category. This study sought to assess the uniqueness of bisexuality to assess the risk of ATOD use and suicide […]

Responding to suicide in school communities: An examination of postvention guidance from expert recommendations and empirical studies

Purpose of Review We review the published literature on a school’s response after a student dies by suicide (“postvention”). We examine published recommendations based on expert guidance and empirical studies that have evaluated postvention measures. Recent Findings Experts recommend careful communication with family, staff, and students that adheres to published suicide reporting guidelines. Experts also […]

After a suicide death in a high school: Exploring students’ perspectives

By the time they leave high school, 17% of adolescents will have experienced the suicide death of a friend, peer, or classmate. While some will be unaffected or experience a brief period of distress following the death, for others the death will cause significant disruption and distress, even increasing their risk of suicidal thoughts and […]

Societal and environmental factors impacting on mental health and suicide among learners in Nigeria

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the societal and environmental factors that influence mental health and suicide among learners in Nigeria. It examines the complex interplay between social and environmental elements by presenting a clear perspective on the challenges faced by learners and thereafter offers recommendations for addressing these issues effectively. Drawing from existing […]

Selfies, social, & screens: Navigating virtual spaces for youth. Back-to-school toolkit 2023

The 2023 Mental Health America Back-to-School toolkit focuses on an area that MHA has seen be a key driver of youth mental health concerns: social media and online activity. The toolkit, “Selfies, Social, & Screens: Navigating Virtual Spaces for Youth,” provides educational information and tips on how to tackle some of the most common online […]

Predicting suicidal ideation among Native American high schoolers in California

Suicide is the leading cause of non-accidental death for Native American young people ages 15-24 years old. Concerningly, suicide rates have continued to rise over the past decade despite a myriad of prevention efforts. This shortcoming has urged some scholars to (re)examine key theoretical constructs to better direct suicide prevention efforts in tribal communities. Using […]

Suicidal mortality and motives among middle-school, high-school, and university students

Importance: The suicide mortality rate per 100 000 population (SMRP) consistently decreased before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Japan and then unexpectedly increased during the pandemic. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Objective: To identify trends in and factors associated with suicidal mortality and motives among students in Japan from 2007 to 2022. Design, Setting, […]

Evaluation of a suicide prevention program encompassing both student and teacher training components

Background: Although suicide prevention programs have been shown to change suicide-related knowledge and attitudes, relatively little is known about their effects on actual behavior. Aims: Therefore, the focus of the present study was on improving participating school staff’s practical and communication skills. Method: Suicide prevention workshops for students in grades 8-10 (N = 200) and a gatekeeper training program […]

Media framing of student-athlete suicide: An examination of problems, causes, moral evaluations, and treatment recommendations

At least five NCAA student athletes died by suicide in spring 2022. The deaths generated national news media attention while underscoring the stressors student-athletes face in relation to mental health. Journalists play an important role in shaping public understanding of issues, including mental health and suicide. By framing issues, journalists can shape the way audiences […]

A qualitative study on perspectives of undergraduate professional students on suicide and recommendations for an effective suicide prevention program

Background: Suicide has become a leading cause of death among 15- to 39-year-olds. Recent data suggests that one student commits suicide every 60 seconds in India. One of the suicide preventive strategies adopted is the introduction of a crisis helpline for students but the effectiveness of this support in preventing suicide remains questionable. Our study aims to find out the perspectives of students on suicide and their recommendations […]

Risk of suicide and self‑harm in university students entering different university programs: A national register‑based cohort study in Sweden

Purpose: It is not known whether the elevated suicide risk in certain occupations, such as health care professionals, is partly attributable to a selection of individuals with prior vulnerability. We aimed to determine the risk of suicide and self-harm already in students entering different university programs. Methods: We used national registers to identify 621,218 Swedish residents aged […]