Prevention education against self-harm and suicide

Prevention education against self-harm and suicide for pupils in primary schools

The Pieta Society , in partnership with the City of Hafnarfjörður and partners in Lithuania and Ireland, recently received a 25 million króna grant through the EU's Erasmus+ education programme to transfer and further develop course materials and pilot courses for 13-14-year-olds. The project officially began last November.

Tools to tackle different challenges in life

The project “Building Resilience and Brighter Futures” (BUILD) is designed to provide young people, many of whom experience suicidal thoughts or self-harm, with tools to cope with various challenges in life, build perseverance and resilience, and enhance self-confidence and emotional skills. Year 8 pupils in the primary schools of Hafnarfjörður and in Kaunas, Lithuania, will be offered a 6-week prevention programme. It is hoped that the programme will be available for other municipalities to teach next year.

“Hafnarfjörður is a healthy community and a leader among municipalities in developing preventative services for children and young people. BRÚIN, an interdisciplinary collaborative project within the municipality, is based on early intervention in a multifaceted way in a child's life. The BUILD prevention project fits well with these priorities and is designed to meet the needs of young people for conversation and support during their crucial formative years.” says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, the mayor.

“Píeta is a suicide and self-harm prevention organisation and a leader in suicide prevention work in Iceland. The BUILD project is a very important part of the organisation's prevention strategy, but until now, the organisation has only worked with individuals aged 18 and over. We are aware that prevention work needs to start earlier and of the importance of teaching children and young people how to cope with difficult emotions and mental health challenges. We have great faith that the BUILD project will have a significant impact and are grateful to the City of Hafnarfjörður for embarking on it with us,” says Kristín Ólafsdóttir, executive director of the Pieta Foundation.

Suicide and self-harm defined as a global health problem

Youth suicide and self-harm is a complex issue, and the World Health Organisation has defined youth suicide and self-harm as a global public health problem. A recent report from the organisation states that suicide is the third most common cause of death among 15-19 year-olds, and that over half of those who struggle with mental health problems begin to experience them at around the age of 14. Recent data show that the suicide rate among 15-19-year-olds is highest in Lithuania among OECD member states, at 13 per 100,000 inhabitants (2017, no figures for Iceland) whereas youth suicide in Iceland in 2015-2019 was 13.6 per 100,000 inhabitants (Landlæknir).

Mental health promotion and prevention are crucial

Failure to address the mental wellbeing of young people can lead to mental ill-health in adulthood and a reduced quality of life. Mental health promotion and preventative measures aimed at strengthening the ability of children and young people to manage their emotions, resist risky behaviour, build perseverance and resilience to cope with difficult situations and adversity, engage in self-help and ensure access to support and services, are crucial. According to the findings of the 2018 working group on suicide prevention, the school community is the most suitable platform for reaching as many children and young people as possible with mental health promotion and prevention, and it is proposed that suicide prevention programmes be introduced in the upper years of primary school. The BUILD project answers that call. The Pietas hotline is open 24/7, the Red Cross helpline is 1717 and the emergency number is 112.

Further information is provided by:

• Hulda Ingibjörg Rafnarsdóttir, Project Manager of BUILD, on the phone. 698-0929
• Inga María Hjartardóttir, Marketing Manager at Pieta in S. 896-5252
• Geir Bjarnason, Sports and Leisure Officer for the City of Hafnarfjörður, in the phone. 664-5754