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Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Suicide prevention for youth - a mental health awareness program: lessons learned from the Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) intervention study

Authors: Camilla Wasserman, Christina W Hoven, Danuta Wasserman, Vladimir Carli, Marco Sarchiapone, Susana Al-Halabí, Alan Apter, Judit Balazs, Julio Bobes, Doina Cosman, Luca Farkas, Dana Feldman, Gloria Fischer, Nadja Graber, Christian Haring, Dana Cristina Herta, Miriam Iosue, Jean-Pierre Kahn, Helen Keeley, Katja Klug, Jacklyn McCarthy, Alexandra Tubiana-Potiez, Airi Varnik, Peeter Varnik, Janina Žiberna, Vita Poštuvan

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

The Awareness program was designed as a part of the EU-funded Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) intervention study to promote mental health of adolescents in 11 European countries by helping them to develop problem-solving skills and encouraging them to self-recognize the need for help as well as how to help peers in need.

Methods

For this descriptive study all coordinators of the SEYLE Awareness program answered an open-ended evaluation questionnaire at the end of the project implementation. Their answers were synthesized and analyzed and are presented here.

Results

The results show that the program cultivated peer understanding and support. Adolescents not only learned about mental health by participating in the Awareness program, but the majority of them also greatly enjoyed the experience.

Conclusions

Recommendations for enhancing the successes of mental health awareness programs are presented. Help and cooperation from schools, teachers, local politicians and other stakeholders will lead to more efficacious future programs.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Suicide prevention for youth - a mental health awareness program: lessons learned from the Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) intervention study
Authors
Camilla Wasserman
Christina W Hoven
Danuta Wasserman
Vladimir Carli
Marco Sarchiapone
Susana Al-Halabí
Alan Apter
Judit Balazs
Julio Bobes
Doina Cosman
Luca Farkas
Dana Feldman
Gloria Fischer
Nadja Graber
Christian Haring
Dana Cristina Herta
Miriam Iosue
Jean-Pierre Kahn
Helen Keeley
Katja Klug
Jacklyn McCarthy
Alexandra Tubiana-Potiez
Airi Varnik
Peeter Varnik
Janina Žiberna
Vita Poštuvan
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-776

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