PS09 - Building the Evidence for Suicide Prevention in Vulnerable Youth: Findings, Recommendations and Implications from Multiple European Studies

The Suffering a Loss in Adolescence: Mental Health, Risk and Suicidal Behaviour of European Youth
August, 29 | 08:30 - 10:00

Introduction. The death of a family member or close friend or even a pet in adolescence is an intensive experience that is associated with adverse outcomes. Bereavement in adolescence poses a risk of serious problems affecting an individual's mental health and well-being, as well as interpersonal relationships and increased risky behaviour (Burrell et al., 2018; Lytje & Dyregrov, 2019; Oppenheimer et al., 2018). Our study aimed to report on the prevalence of adolescents who have experienced loss and to study their mental health, risk behaviour and suicidal behaviour. Methods. The data was drawn from the multicentre study Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE), implemented at 168 schools in ten European countries (Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Slovenia and Spain). Overall, 11,772 participants with an average age of 14.9 years [SD=0.9] participated in the study. 56.4% were female and 43.4% were male. Results. The results show that the majority (74%) of adolescents reported not having lost a pet or loved one in the last 6 months, while the remaining 26% reported having suffered a loss. Among these cases, the loss of a pet (11%) and the death of a close family member (9%) were the most common, while the loss of a close friend or multiple types of losses (e.g., pet and family member, family member and friend) were less common (around 3% each). Using a TwoStep Cluster Analysis, different patterns were identified among adolescents who had experienced a loss, with those reporting two or more losses being at higher risk. Conclusion. We can conclude that our study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on adolescent bereavement and offers novel perspectives on the complex interplay between experiences of loss and subsequent outcomes, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by this vulnerable population. Implication for (school-based) interventions will also be addressed in the presentation.

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