4,339 pupils join Mallorca suicide prevention study
Over the coming weeks, 4,339 secondary school pupils in Mallorca, Menorca and Eivissa will take part in a suicide prevention study. The SOM·RIU project will run in 171 classrooms across 43 schools in the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa) has begun the implementation phase of the clinical trial.
The programme uses classroom workshops during school hours to help pupils recognise and manage emotions, spot warning signs of psychological distress and develop healthier ways of coping. It also covers seeking professional help, supporting peers and tackling prejudice around mental health problems.
In most of the schools, educational psychologists, guidance staff and other support-team professionals will deliver the sessions after training from the research team. Families, teachers and other school staff will also have access to a digital tool with practical materials and evidence-based information.
SOM·RIU is intended to test how well school-based action can promote mental health and prevent suicide. Its findings are expected to guide future public policies and measures to protect young people’s mental health.
Project leader Ignacio Ricci said adolescence is a crucial period because many mental health problems emerge before the age of 18. “Early intervention can make a huge difference,” he said.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com