Abstract
ObjectiveThe evidence base for suicide prevention programs in Australian schools is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a universal, mental health promotion and suicide prevention program—Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM)—on suicidal ideation, mental health, and help-seeking in Australian secondary school students from baseline to post-intervention and 6-month follow up.MethodsUsing a single-arm design, the YAM program was delivered to Year 9 students (13–16 years) in secondary schools located within four regions across New South Wales, Australia. A structured self-report questionnaire using validated scales was administered at each time point. Linear mixed-effects modelling was used to examine differences in suicidal ideation scores across time, while accounting for random effects of individual schools.ResultsSuicidal ideation reduced significantly from baseline to post, and from baseline to follow-up (p < 0.001). Depression severity declined (p < 0.001) and help-seeking intentions increased (p < 0.001) at post-intervention and 6- months following the intervention period. No suicide deaths were reported for any study participants.ConclusionThe current findings provide preliminary evidence that the YAM program is a promising preventive intervention for Australian schools, particularly for reducing suicidal ideation, depression and increasing help-seeking intentions in young people. The implementation of YAM in a large number of schools across New South Wales demonstrates the feasibility, and acceptability by schools, of implementing this program at scale.Trial registration: ANZCTR, ACTRN12619000338167. Registered 5 March 2019—Retrospectively registered, http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376989&isReview=true.
Highlights
Young people are recognised in suicide prevention policy as a group needing targeted intervention [37] as youth suicide rates are increasing faster than in adults [6]
Few evidencebased suicide and mental health prevention programs for suicide are being implemented in secondary schools [24], despite this being a developmental period in which suicidal thoughts and behaviours typically emerge [19, 32], and recent meta-analytical evidence that school-based interventions have a preventive effect on suicidal ideation and attempts in youth [22]
This paper reports on outcome data collected for an evaluation of the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program, which was implemented as part of a larger multilevel suicide prevention trial that took place in four regions in New South Wales, Australia [18, 28]
Summary
Young people are recognised in suicide prevention policy as a group needing targeted intervention [37] as youth suicide rates are increasing faster than in adults [6]. The most robust evidence for suicide prevention is associated with the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) [34] and Signs of Suicide (SOS) [2] programs These programs are designed to improve early identification and management of young people at risk of suicide through increasing youth awareness and knowledge of mental health, teaching skills in how to respond and seek help for self and peers, and improving coping skills to manage adverse and stressful life events. Against a background of increasing rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in school-aged youth, it will become increasingly difficult for Australian education departments to meet supply–demand to provide therapeutic support to students with mental health needs within schools. YAM was selected as the school-based program for the current trial due to the strength of the research evaluation design, the comprehensiveness of the program, the enduring effects, and the potential for YAM to be integrated into school practice, thereby helping to manage the increasing mental health burden
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
