Experience Report: Workshops for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention with Students

Abstract

The school is a favorable space for suicide prevention among adolescents. However, few researches with this purpose are conducted in this context. This study analyzed adolescents' perceptions of their participation in workshops aimed at suicide prevention and mental health promotion. The activity focused on self-awareness, emotional expression, empathy social skill, and interpersonal violence identification. The workshop lasted one hour, using dialogical exposition and small group discussions on problem-based scenarios. A total of 211 students aged between 14 to 20 years participated, with 108 (51.1%) being male, all from a public high school. Eleven workshops were evaluated using a form designed to assess satisfaction and the applicability of the intervention. The data were analyzed quantitatively, and for qualitative analysis, artificial intelligence was used. The results indicated that the workshops enhanced students' positive perceptions about empathy, welcoming friends, and recognizing violence. Aspects such as proximity to adults and stress management require further attention. It was concluded that the workshops promoted empathy, social support, and a perception of benefits to the group. The findings imply interventions and public policies for suicide prevention and mental health in schools.