Effectiveness of emotional intelligence therapy on suicide risk among adolescents in residential care

This study aimed to apply Emotional Intelligence Therapy (EIT) in a sample of adolescents in residential care and to examine its impact on three outcomes: suicide risk, perceived emotional intelligence (PEI), and basic psychological needs (BPN). Treatment consisted of 16 group sessions held on a weekly basis to develop the emotional skills of perception, facilitation of thinking, understanding and management. A clinical trial of repeated measures was conducted in which the study variables were evaluated at three time points: between three and four months prior to treatment, pre-treatment and post-treatment. Of the initial 65 participants, only 19 (73.68% were boys; Mage= 13.74) completed the three evaluations. The results showed a significant decrease in suicide risk after EIT, especially regarding levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Participants also improved their perception of emotional clarity and of competence. No significant changes were noted in any of the variables when on the waiting list. EIT could be a good tool to prevent the emergence of factors that entail suicide risk among adolescents in residential care.