Experts call for urgent action in schools to prevent emotional distress in young people
One in three young people have thought about suicide and 11% have attempted it
Engaging with families and schools is crucial for prevention and early intervention, yet structural resources, specific training and interdepartmental coordination are also essential
Bringing research and clinical practice into education and including young people's views in public policy is critical for prevention
The high prevalence of distress and suicidal behaviour among young people is the core topic of discussion on the first day of Mental Health Week at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
Given the alarming data on mental health and suicidal behaviour among young people, schools need to be a key factor in prevention and early intervention, with training, protocols and tools to help teachers, students and families spot warning signs and reduce risk factors; "prevention is a social responsibility". This was the main theme of the conference on young people and mental health Mood On: what's happening to young people?, organised by Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu to kick off Mental Health Week 2025 from 6 to 10 October.
Figures that call for urgent action
Preliminary data from the PROSIA-Y project, which analyses the risk and protective factors for suicidal behaviour in young people in Catalonia, show that 32% of young people have had suicidal thoughts, 11% have attempted suicide and 26% have self-harmed. The figures are especially high in women, with nearly 40% having self-harmed and had suicidal thoughts and one in five having attempted suicide. Immigrants and people with non-heterosexual orientations have higher prevalence rates. Determining factors include childhood trauma, substance abuse, low social support and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, using social media as a way to alleviate emotional distress has been identified as a significant predictor of suicidal behaviour, although abusive use is always associated with some other mental disorder.
Figures from the 2023 Barcelona Youth Mental Health Barometer reveal that four out of six young people report experiencing emotional distress. Furthermore, the 2021 Risk Factors in Secondary School Students (FRESC) survey shows that the mental health of teenagers is getting worse, especially among girls and in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. While in 2016, 10% of girls were at risk of poor mental health, in 2021 it was 20%.
Structural proposals to prevent and transform within society
The panel discussion Not everything is scrolling; real experiences brought together professionals from research, healthcare and social services and government plus people with personal experience who identified pressing needs and recommendations for jointly building responses and better addressing the current mental health challenges facing teenagers and young adults against a background of increasing social complexity.
The experts stressed that prevention in schools through workshops, protocols and training for teachers is crucial as it is an effective means of early detection. “Most mental disorders begin at an early age, which is why it is essential to implement care and prevention services directly in schools,” argued Arnau Carmona, a researcher on the PROSIA-Y project at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu.
To ensure the continuity of services over time, the experts also pointed to the need to provide schools with structural resources, such as adding a clinical psychologist to staff. This would make it possible to "get a snapshot of mental health at the school, monitor its evolution and guide intervention strategies while also enabling early detection and referral when necessary,” added Carmona. They also picked out the importance of fostering social and emotional skills such as empathy, resilience and assertiveness in the classroom by building them into the curriculum rather than treating them as just another add-on.
Including young people's views and public policy research
To achieve this, it is essential to engage the educational community in the co-creation of projects and “include young people's views and perspectives in public policy,” said Laura Llamas, a Mental Health Technician at Barcelona City Council. Likewise, Carmona also commented that integrating research and clinical practice into education is essential for prevention.
Working together would make it possible to consolidate health promotion and prevention programmes to prevent or delay the onset of health problems. This process calls for interdisciplinary and interdepartmental efforts (Education, Health and Social Rights), scientific precision and effective coordination between institutions which puts teenagers, young people and their environment at the forefront. “School is a key agent of change, yet we also need to look at all the environments in which young people grow up: family, youth clubs, civic centres and more,” noted Ester Camprodon, director of the Henka project at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona.
Laia Rico, an activist at the Amb Experiència Pròpia association, shared her personal story, underlining the importance of setting up safe spaces, listening without judging and dismantling stigma, and called for resources to help teachers deal with situations of emotional distress in the classroom.
Mental Health Week: Five days, five major challenges
Mental Health Week 2025 includes five days of conferences with panel discussions, experiential workshops and activities open to the community. The programme centres on five fundamental themes: young people, families, sport, research and how to prepare ourselves for managing uncertainty. It is to be held at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu from 6 to 10 October, coinciding with World Mental Health Day.
Monday 6 – Mood On: what's happening to young people?
Tuesday 7 – Mental health and families: support in the care process
Wednesday 8 – Mental health and sport: impacts and limits
Thursday 9 – Mental health research: personalised medicine for the future
Friday 10 – Mental health and uncertainty: how to prepare
Friday 10 – Organisations' fair (4 pm to 8.30 pm)
All the information about the week and the detailed programme are available here.
