L Recchia

P-1410 - Internet and the media for the prevention of suicide among european youngs

Introduction The researches show a rapid growth of mental disorders among adolescents and young adults that often co-occurs with risk behaviours, such as suicide, which is one of the leading cause of death among young ages 15–34. Therefore its necessary to use some tools that can promote mental health getting to young lives such as Internet and media. Objectives SUPREME (Suicide Prevention by Internet and Media Based Mental Health Promotion) is an European project for the prevention of risk behaviours and mental health promotion through the use of mass media and Internet, financed by DG SANCO EU Public Health and developed by a consortium of 7 European countries. Aims The main expected outcome of the project is to improve mental health among European adolescents and young adults. Methods The intervention will comprise of a highly interactive website targeted at adolescents and young adults in the age group 14–24 years, and a set of published guidelines, aimed at Media that targets young audiences, such as newspapers and magazines. In each participating country, a sample of 300 pupils in the age 14 – 24 years will be selected and randomized in one of the three different intervention arms. A baseline questionnaire will be administered to the pupils for require the data on lifestyles, values and attitudes, psychological well-being, familiar relationship and friendship. Conclusions Through the obtained data will be possible identify the best practices to promote mental health through the Internet and the media.

P-1416 - Awareness method in truancy prevention programs: WE-STAY project

Introduction Truancy is correlated to many aspects of adolescent daily life: physical, mental health, social and economical conditions. WE-STAY (Working in Europe to Stop Truancy Among Youth) is a prevention program designed to reduce truancy and to promote mental health among European adolescents. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of the awareness program, in truancy prevention . The awareness intervention aims to increase knowledge about a number of factors, including psychological ones, associated to truancy and how to get help. Aims Gather information on truancy in European adolescents and perform three school-based health- promotion interventions for adolescents in the entire study and compare the results with a control intervention. Methods Six European countries are participating in the WE- STAY intervention. In each country, a sample of 1600 pupils ages 14–18 will be randomized into one of four different intervention arms. Baseline evaluation of students’ lifestyle, coping styles, at-risk truancy, self-harm behaviours and mental health issues will be collected using a structured questionnaire. Results In the Molise region there are 58 schools, 15 vocational schools and 43 high schools, with a total of 15393 students. After the randomization, we were left with 32 schools, 6 vocational schools and 26 high schools, encompassing a total of 9.489 students, 4.166 males and 5.323 females. Conclusions Truancy is often related to mental health problems and at-risk behaviours. WE-STAY will make it possible to evaluate outcomes of different preventive programs and to recommend effective culturally adjusted models for preventing truancy and promoting mental health for adolescents.

1849 – Young and suicide prevention programs through internet and media: supreme

Introduction The researches show a rapid growth of mental disorders among adolescents and young adults that often cooccurs with risk behaviours, such as suicide, which is one of the leading cause of death among young ages 15-34. Therefore its necessary to use some tools that can promote mental health getting to young lives such as Internet and media. Objectives SUPREME (Suicide Prevention by Internet and Media Based Mental Health Promotion) is aimed to increasing the prevention of risk behaviours and mental health promotion through the use of mass media and Internet. Aims The main expected outcome is to improve mental health among European adolescents. Method In each European countries a sample of 300 students (average age of 15 years) will be selected. The prevention program will be a highly interactive website that which will address topics such as raising awareness about mental health and suicide, combating stigma, and stimulate peer help. The program will use different means of referral to the intervention website: “Adolescent related” and “Professional related”. A questionnaire will be administered to the pupils for require the data on lifestyles, values and attitudes, psychological well-being, familiar relationship and friendship. Conclusion Some web-sites, managed by mental health professionals, produced encouraging results about their use in prevention of risk behaviours and in increase well-being, especially in youth with low self-esteem and low life-satisfaction. With the implementation of the SUPREME project we will be able to identify best practices for promoting mental health through the Internet and the media.