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This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

EV1308

Youth Suicide Prevention 2023–2028: Implementing the YAM Program in Galicia

YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION 2023–2028: IMPLEMENTATION OF YAM IN GALICIA

The YAM program, developed by Karolinska Institutet, is being gradually rolled out in Galicia and is expected to reach all third-year ESO students in 2027–2028.

The poster presents the implementation in Galicia of YAM (Youth Aware of Mental Health), a universal mental health promotion program developed by Karolinska Institutet for adolescents aged 13–17. The program’s primary aim is to reduce the risk of anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior by improving adolescents’ knowledge, skills, and help-seeking behavior; it promotes mental health literacy and early recognition of signs of distress, strengthens social-emotional skills and protective factors, and encourages seeking help from peers and trusted adults. YAM is delivered through five participatory sessions: introduction (mental health theory through questions and discussion), dilemmas (recognizing emotions, decision-making, and consequences), role-play on stress and crises (everyday stress, coping, and self-care), role-play on depression and suicidal ideation (warning signs and help-seeking), and conclusion (sources of support in the community); the program’s principles are participation, neutrality, and confidentiality. Implementation began in 2023–2024 with 1,246 third-year ESO students (aged 14–15) and is being gradually expanded; the plan is to reach all third-year ESO students in Galicia, approximately 28,000 students, in 2027–2028. The program is delivered by 54 instructors who have completed 40 hours of training and 172 assistants who have completed 5 hours of training. Professionals reported finding the experience enriching and normalizing, noting that adolescents had a broader understanding than expected and did not feel understood or listened to; students reported feeling heard, having their views respected, and beginning to consider that others experience events differently.

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