Conference Agenda

Background: Concerns exist regarding the relationship between social media and youth suicide. Educating young people to safely navigate online suicide content could reduce risk.

Aims: To test the impact of the #chatsafe social media intervention on young people’s safety and confidence when communicating about suicide on social media.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial comparing #chatsafe with a sexual health campaign. 906 Australians aged 16 to 25 were randomly assigned (453 per arm) and blind to allocation. The 8-week intervention included 24 pieces of campaign content. Outcomes were measured at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 4 weeks later (T3). The primary outcome was online safety in suicide communication. Secondary outcomes included confidence, willingness to intervene against suicide, internet self-efficacy, safety, and acceptability. Statistical analyses were conducted by a blinded statistician.

Results: Results showed a mean improvement of 0.23 from T1 to T2 in safety of online communication in the #chatsafe arm and a mean decline of -0.19 in controls. Mean group difference was 0.40 (95% CI 0.18 to 0.61, p = 0.0003); differences were not sustained at T3. Improvements in confidence were observed in the #chatsafe arm compared to controls (mean change = 0.43 vs 0.10; coefficient = 0.30, p<0.001), with effects sustained at follow-up (p=0.028). Improvements in both subscales of willingness to intervene were observed in the #chatsafe group (mean change = 3.31 vs -0.20; coefficient = 3.50, p=<.001 and mean change = 0.94 vs -1.59; coefficient = 2.55, p = 0.002, respectively). No between-group differences were found for internet self-efficacy. 53.5% found the intervention helpful; 98.3% reported no or minimal negative effects.

Conclusion: #chatsafe represents an evidence-based approach for promoting safe online communication about suicide among young people. Research examining the ability of #chatsafe to deliver support or link people to help would be a useful next step.

Background: Peer support services are an increasingly recognised form of postvention support. However, there is a notable lack of provision tailored specifically for children and young people. This aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a UK-based suicide bereavement peer support group for children and young people (CYP) on confidence levels, self-esteem and social isolation.

Method: A case series study was conducted, following CYP who engaged with the service. Sixty-five CYP using Alfie’s Squad between 1^st September 2023 and 1^st July 2025. Phase one involved routinely collected quantitative data from CYP at three timepoints: baseline, eight weeks and six months after programme entry. Phase two included qualitative interviews (n=29) with staff delivering the service, CYP and parents/guardians of CYP using the service. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the data.

Results: At baseline, many CYP reported difficulties related to loneliness, low self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing. Findings suggest that attending Alfie’s Squad led to reductions in social isolation, increased trust, improved emotional expression, and strengthened peer relationships. Participants described Alfie’s Squad as a safe and supportive space where they could share experiences, develop meaningful relationships, and build coping strategies. The creative and activity-based structure of the programme was especially valued by CYP, who appreciated being able to engage in enjoyable and age-appropriate activities while navigating their grief.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the value of Alfie’s Squad as a peer-support service in addressing the social, emotional, and practical needs of CYP bereaved by suicide. To enhance the service’s impact and sustainability, we recommend the continued implementation of a data system to enable robust and consistent data collection practices to monitor outcomes and inform ongoing development. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term outcomes for CYP and the role of this postvention model in suicide prevention.

Background: Universal school-based interventions like Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) hold promise for adolescent suicide prevention, yet feasibility data for this program do not exist in Danish schools.

Aims: (1) To investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of the YAM program in Danish public schools to 8th-9th-grade students, and (2) to explore its preliminary effects on self-reported outcomes at 3- and 6-month follow-up.

Methods: A two-armed, cluster-randomised feasibility trial was conducted. Nine public schools were assigned to either the YAM program, combined with the usual curriculum, or to the YAM posters, combined with the usual curriculum. Feasibility outcomes included participation, course completion and questionnaire response rate. Acceptability was assessed through self-reported attendance, and fidelity was monitored using instructor logbooks. Self-reported outcomes were collected during school hours, including suicidal behaviour, psychological distress, well-being, help-seeking intentions, and suicide-related stigma. The statistical analysis was carried out by a blinded researcher.

Results: 298 of 721 eligible students (41%) and their parents provided informed consent. Group 1 consisted of 140 students, and Group 2 consisted of 158, with balanced baseline characteristics. The YAM program was completed by 74%. Questionnaire completion (≥75% of items) was 89% at baseline, 79% at 3 months, and 83% at 6 months. In total, 17 classes were assigned to the intervention, with 85 YAM sessions delivered; 95% of them were implemented as intended. Instructor logs were complete for all but two sessions, and 21% sessions had one or more deviations from the manual. Self-reported outcomes on well-being and suicidality will be presented at the conference.

Conclusions: YAM demonstrated high feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability in Danish schools, supporting the consideration of future implementation of such a universal strategy to improve adolescent mental health.

Background: Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people (YP) in the UK, yet few school-based prevention programmes have been tested in real-world settings. Guided by international best practice, this study qualitatively explored experiences of implementing a Multi-modal Approach to Preventing Suicide in Schools (MAPSS).

Aims: Understand workshop facilitators, school staff, and YP’s experiences, perceived value and contextual factors influencing adoption and delivery of school-based suicide prevention programmes.

Method: Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with YP (N=6), school staff (N=10), and workshop facilitators (N=2). Focus groups were also conducted with YP (N=25) following participation in the suicide prevention workshop. Thematic framework analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results: Findings were explored in relation to barriers and facilitators to implementation across multiple levels: classroom/individual, school, intervention and wider community. Themes included engagement, accessibility and relatability; implementation challenges; risk and responsibility; programme design and engagement; and building awareness for early intervention and stigma. All themes span across levels of the model, with individual factors often interacting with school-level barriers and facilitators. For example, Programme Design and Engagement reflect factors at an individual (student, staff, workshop facilitators), organisational (school culture, resources), and broader systems level (policy and community support).

Conclusion: MAPSS was perceived as acceptable, safe, beneficial and feasible in school settings, though logistical challenges remain. Interestingly, facilitators and barriers were often described as interdependent, rather than separate. For example, while staff acknowledged that time constraints and staff capacity posed a challenge, they also emphasised that a whole school approach allowed for more shared responsibility by embedding suicide prevention into existing structures. Insights from multiple stakeholders highlight important considerations for refining and scaling school-based suicide prevention programmes in the UK. Further research is needed to evaluate and ensure the safety of YP, staff and the wider school community.

Background: Continuity of care is essential for effective youth suicide prevention, yet it is often difficult to achieve in practice. In the Netherlands, access to appropriate care is frequently hampered, partly due to long waiting lists and institutional policies that consider suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs) a contraindication for treatment. This study aims to explore primary care providers’ perspectives and experiences regarding the inclusion of adolescents with STBs in youth mental healthcare.

Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted using questionnaires (n = 100) and in-depth interviews (n = 10) among professionals working with adolescents up to age 23 in primary youth mental healthcare. Respondents evaluated a fictional case involving a young person with STBs and indicated whether they would provide care. Follow-up questions examined factors enabling care provision, perceived barriers when care was not provided, and recommendations for improving access for adolescents with STBs.

Results: Preliminary findings indicate that 92% of care providers would include adolescents with suicidal thoughts, whereas only 38% would include adolescents with recent suicide attempts. About half of participating organizations had policies regarding the admission or refusal of care for youth with STBs, often related to risk management and the availability of 24/7 care. Commonly reported barriers included the absence of a multidisciplinary team, case severity, and lack of crisis support. Suggested solutions included training in suicide prevention, improved collaboration with crisis teams, and more frequent case reviews with colleagues.

Conclusion: In the Netherlands, adolescents with recent suicide attempts are more likely to be refused care in primary youth mental healthcare, which may reinforce feelings of being a burden or the belief that no one can truly help them. The findings of this study will be translated into actionable recommendations to inform stakeholders and guide policy development.