How to Cite
Barcelata-Eguiarte, B. E. ., Hernández Trejo, L. A., Lucio Gómez-Maqueo, M. E., & Vázquez-Cortés, V. G. (2026). School-Based Interventions for Suicidal Behavior Prevention in Adolescence: An Integrative Review. Acta Colombiana De Psicología, 29, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.14718/ACP.2026.29.6
License
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

 Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:

 Acta Colombiana de Psicología complies with international intellectual property and copyright laws, and particularly with Article No. 58 of the Political Constitution of Colombia, Law No. 23 of 1982, and the Agreement No. 172 of September 30, 2010 (Universidad Católica de Colombia Intellectual Property Regulation).

The works published in the journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike 4.0 International License, which allows third parties to use the published material provided that they acknowledge the authorship of the work and its first publication in this Journal.

Abstract

La conducta suicida en adolescentes es un problema de salud pública de gran importancia a nivel global. Aunque los tratamientos han avanzado, la mayoría se ha desarrollado en contextos clínicos más que escolares. La presente revisión tuvo como objetivo identificar, evaluar y sintetizar intervenciones escolares para prevenir y manejar la conducta suicida en adolescentes, comparando sus características principales. Siguiendo los elementos de PRISMA y PICO, se buscaron estudios publicados entre enero de 2016 y junio de 2025 en EBSCO, OVID y PubMed. De 2549 registros, 33 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. La mayoría de las intervenciones se realizaron en países angloparlantes, con pocas en Latinoamérica, y emplearon enfoques psicoeducativos o cognitivo-conductuales en diseños preexperimentales o cuasiexperimentales; los ensayos aleatorizados fueron menos frecuentes. En general, se observaron mejoras en conocimiento, búsqueda de ayuda e indicadores de riesgo suicida, aunque los tamaños del efecto se reportaron de forma inconsistente. Los hallazgos sugieren efectos prometedores, pero subrayan la necesidad de investigaciones más rigurosas y culturalmente adaptadas en América Latina.

References

An asterisk (*) denotes studies that were included in the systematic review.

*Amaral, A. P., Uchoa Sampaio, J., Ney Matos, F. R., Pocinho, M. T. S., Fernandes de Mesquita, R., & Sousa, L. R. M.(2020). Depresión e ideación suicida en la adolescencia: implementación y evaluación de un programa de intervención. Enfermería Global, 19(3), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.6018/eglobal.402951

American Psychiatric Association. (2018). DSM-5 Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales (5th ed.). Editorial Médica Panamericana.

*Asarnow, J. R., Hughes, J. L., Babeva, K. N., & Sugar, C. A. (2017). Cognitive-Behavioral Family Treatment for Suicide Attempt Prevention: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(6), 506–514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2017.03.015

*Baggio, S., Nsingi, N., Kanani, A., Bourqui, L., Graglia, M., & Thélin, R. (2022). Evaluation of a brief universal suicide prevention programme in young people: A cluster-controlled trial in Swiss schools. Swiss Medical Weekly, 152(2930), w30207. https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2022.w30207

*Bahamón, M. J., Alarcón-Vásquez, Y., Trejos-Herrera, A. M., Vinaccia Alpi, S., Cabezas, A., & Sepúlveda, J. (2019). Efectos del programa CIPRES sobre el riesgo suicida en adolescentes. Revista de Psicopatología y Psicología Clínica, 24(2), 83–91. https://doi.org/10.5944/rppc.23667

*Bailey, E., Spittal, M. J., Pirkis, J., Gould, M., & Robinson, J. (2017). Universal Suicide Prevention in Young People: An Evaluation of the safeTALK Program in Australian High Schools. Crisis, 38(5), 300–308. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000465

*Barzilay, S., Apter, A., Snir, A., Carli, V., Hoven, C. W., Sarchiapone, M., Hadlaczky, G., Balazs, J., Kereszteny, A., Brunner, R., Kaess, M., Bobes, J., Saiz, P. A., Cosman, D., Haring, C., Banzer, R., McMahon, E., Keeley, H., Kahn, J., … Wasserman, D. (2019). A longitudinal examination of the interpersonal theory of suicide and effects of school‐based suicide prevention interventions in a multinational study of adolescents. Journal

of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 60(10), 1104–1111. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13119

Booth, A., Clarke, M., Dooley, G., Ghersi, D., Moher, D., Petticrew, M., & Stewart, L. (2012). The nuts and bolts of PROSPERO: an international prospective register of systematic reviews. Systematic Reviews, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-1-2

Borges, G., Orozco, R., & Medina-Mora, M. E. (2012). Índice de riesgo para el intento suicida en México. Salud Pública de México, 54(6), 595–606. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-36342012000600008

Borges, G., Benjet, C., Orozco, R., & Medina-Mora, M. E. (2016). The growth of suicide ideation, plan and attempt among young adults in the Mexico City metropolitan area. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 26(6), 635–643. http://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796016000603

*Calear, A. L., McCallum, S. M., Christensen, H., Mackinnon, A. J., Nicolopoulos, A., Brewer, J. L., Werner-Seidler, A., Morse, A. R., Kazan, D., Farrer, L. M., Kampel, L., & Batterham, P. J. (2022). The Sources of Strength Australia project: A cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-connectedness school-based program to promote help-seeking in adolescents. Journal of Affective Disorders, 299, 435–443.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.043

*Capps, R. E., Michael, K. D., & Jameson, J. P. (2019). Lethal means and adolescent suicidal risk: An expansion of the peace protocol. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 43(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000108

*Casas-Muñoz, A., Velasco-Rojano, Á. E., Rodríguez-Caballero, A., Funes-González, M. O., Tejadilla-Orozco, D. I., Espinosa-Méndez, P., Jurado-Galicia, R., Tellez-Buendía, A. D., Castro-Ávalos, J. V., Vázquez-García, A., Ibáñez-López, D. L., Cuautle-Rosas, J. L., Rosa-Franco, A. A. de la, & Ríos-Avilés, V. S. (2024). Diseño de una estrategia de comunicación en salud para la prevención del suicidio entre adolescentes. Acta Pediátrica de México, 45(1S), S29–S39. https://doi.org/10.18233/apm.v45i1S.2870

Castellví, P., Lucas-Romero, E., Miranda-Mendizábal, A., Parés-Badell, O., Almenara, J., Alonso, I., Blasco M. J., Cebrià, A., Gabilondo, A., Gili, M., Lagares, C., Piqueras, J. A., Roca, M., Rodríguez-Marín, J., Rodríguez- Jimenez, T., SotoSanz, V., & Alonso, J. (2017). Longitudinal association between self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and suicidal behavior in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 215, 37–48. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.03.035

Chodkiewicz, A. R., & Boyle, C. (2016). Positive psychology school‐based interventions: A reflection on current success and future directions. Review of Education, 5(1), 60–86. http://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3080

Evans, B. R., Fraser, W., & Cotter, L. (2014). The effectiveness of school-based bullying prevention programs: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(5), 532–544. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.07.004

Finlayson, B. T., Jones, E., & Pickens, J. C. (2023). Solution focused brief therapy telemental health suicide intervention. Contemporary Family Therapy, 45, 49–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09599-1

*Flynn, A., Zackula, R., Klaus, N. M., McGinness, L., Carr, S., & Macaluso, M. (2016). Student Evaluation of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program in Midwest Schools. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.15m01852

Fox, K. R., Huang, X., Guzmán, E. M., Funsch, K. M., Cha, C. B., Ribeiro, J. D., & Franklin, J. C. (2020). Interventions for suicide and self-injury: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across nearly 50 years of research. Psychological Bulletin, 146(12), 1117–1145. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000305

*Gaete, J., Meza, D., Andaur, J., McKay, S., Robinson, J., & Nuñez, D. (2025). Acceptability and Feasibility of a Blended School-Based Intervention to Prevent Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents in Chile: Results from a Randomized Control Pilot Study. Prevention Science, 26(1), 12–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-025-01770-6

*Gibson, M., Rolls, C., Robson, M., Ward, R., Stuart, J., & Lambden, D. (2024). Project Yarn Circle: Development and pilot evaluation of a cultural connection suicide prevention program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. Australian Psychologist, 59(6), 508–522. https://doi.org/10.1080/00050067.2024.2404977

Gijzen, M. W., Rasing, S. P., Creemers, D. H., Engels, R. C., & Smit, F. (2022). Effectiveness of school-based preventive programs in suicidal thoughts and behaviors: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 298, 408–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.062

*Grosselli, L., Knappe, S., Baumgärtel, J., Lewitzka, U., & Hoyer, J. (2024). Addressing help-seeking, stigma and risk factors for suicidality in secondary schools: Short-term and mid-term effects of the HEYLiFE suicide prevention program in a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 113. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17557-9

*Hart, L. M., Cropper, P., Morgan, A. J., Kelly, C. M., & Jorm, A. F. (2020). teen Mental Health First Aid as a school-based intervention for improving peer support of adolescents at risk of suicide: Outcomes from a cluster randomised crossover trial. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54(4), 382–392. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867419885450

Hofstra, E., Elfeddali, I., Metz, M., Bakker, M., de Jong, J. J., van Nieuwenhuizen, C., & van der Feltz-Cornelis, C. M. (2019). A Regional Systems Intervention for Suicide Prevention in the Netherlands. Study Protocol with a Stepped Wedge Trial Design: SUPREMOCOL. BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), 364. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2342-x

Huang, X., Lin, J., & Demner-Fushman, D. (2006). Evaluation of PICO as a knowledge representation for clinical questions. AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium, 2006, 359–363. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17238363/

*Humensky, J. L., Coronel, B., Gil, R., Mazzula, S., & Lewis-Fernández, R. (2017). Life is Precious: A Community-Based Program to Reduce Suicidal Behavior in Latina Adolescents. Archives of Suicide Research, 21(4), 659–671. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2016.1242442

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). (2022). Suicidios registrados. Salud mental. https://www.inegi.org.mx/temas/salud

Iorfino, F., Ho, N., Carpenter, J. S., Cross, S. P., Davenport, T. A., Hermens, D. F., Yee, H., Nichles, A., Zmicerevska, N., Guastella, G., Scott, E., & Hickie, I. B. (2020). Predicting self-harm within six months after initial presentation to youth mental health services: A machine learning study. PLoS ONE, 15(12), Article e0243467.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243467

*Kahn, J., Cohen, R., Tubiana, A., Legrand, K., Wasserman, C., Carli, V., Apter, A., Balazs, J., Banzer, R., Baralla, F., Barzilai, S., Bobes, J., Brunner, R., Corcoran, P., Cosman, D., Guillemin, F., Haring, C., Kaess, M., Bitenc, U.,… Wasserman, D. (2020). Influence of coping strategies on the efficacy of YAM (Youth Aware of Mental

Health): A universal school-based suicide preventive program. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(12), 1671–1681. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01476-w

*Kim, H. Y., Nam, E. W., Jin, K. N., & So, A. Y. (2020). Effectiveness of a school-based mental health education program in an impoverished urban area of Peru. Global Health Promotion, 27(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757975918786728

*Kinchin, I., Russell, A. M. T., Petrie, D., Mifsud, A., Manning, L., & Doran, C. M. (2020). Program Evaluation and Decision Analytic Modelling of Universal Suicide Prevention Training (safeTALK) in Secondary Schools. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 18(2), 311–324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-019-00505-3

Klonsky, E., May, A., & Saffer, B. (2016). Suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12(1), 307–330. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093204

Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J. V., Urban, J. B., & Zaff, J. (2016). Evaluating programs aimed at promoting positive youth development: A relational development systems-based view. Applied Developmental Science, 20(3), 175–187. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2015.1082430

*Lindow, J. C., Hughes, J. L., South, C., Gutierrez, L., Bannister, E., Trivedi, M. H., & Byerly, M. J. (2020). Feasibility and Acceptability of the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) Intervention in US Adolescents. Archives of Suicide Research, 24(2), 269–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2019.1624667

Linehan, M. M., Comtois, K. A., Murray, A. M., Brown, M. Z., Gallop, R. J., Heard, H. L., Korslund, K., Tutek, D, Reynolds, S., & Lindenboim, N. (2006). Two-year randomized controlled trial and follow-up of dialectical behavior therapy vs therapy by experts for suicidal behaviors and borderline personality disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(7), 757–766. http://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.7.757

McHugh, C. M., Lee, R. S. C., Hermens, D. F., Corderoy, A., Large, M., & Hickie, I. B. (2019). Impulsivity in the selfharm and suicidal behavior of young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 116, 51–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.05.012

Morris‐Perez, P., Abenavoli, R., Benzekri, A., Rosenbach‐Jordan, S., & Boccieri, G. R. (2023). Preventing adolescent suicide: Recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, program developers, and researchers. Social Policy Report, 36(3), 2–32. http://doi.org/10.1002/sop2.30

Nock, M. K., Green, J. G., Hwang, I., McLaughlin, K. A., Sampson, N. A., Zaslavsky, A. M., & Kessler, R. C. (2013). Prevalence, correlates, and treatment of lifetime suicidal behavior among adolescents. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(3), 300–310. http://doi.org/10.1001/2013.jamapsychiatry.55

*Nuñez, D., Meza, D., Andaur, J., Robinson, J., & Gaete, J. (2024). Reframe-IT+, an indicated preventive school-based intervention, reduces suicidal ideation among adolescents in vulnerable contexts in Chile. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 780. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02300-9

Page, M. J., & Moher, D. (2017). Evaluations of the uptake and impact of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Statement and extensions: a scoping review. Systematic Reviews, 6(1), 263. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-017-0663-8

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., & Moher, D. (2021). Updating guidance for reporting systematic reviews: development of the PRISMA 2020 statement. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 134, 103–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.02.003

Paul, E. (2018). Proximally-occurring life events and the first transition from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt in adolescents. Journal of Affective Disorders, 241, 499–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.059

*Pearlman, D. N., Vendetti, T., & Hill, J. (2018). Linking public schools and community mental health services: A model for youth suicide prevention. Rhode Island Medical Journal (2013), 101(4), 36–38. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29703076/

*Pisani, A. R., Wyman, P. A., Cero, I., Kelberman, C., Gurditta, K., Judd, E., Schmeelk-Cone, K., Mohr, D., Goldston, D., & Ertefaie, A. (2024). Text Messaging to Extend School-Based Suicide Prevention: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mental Health, 11, e56407. https://doi.org/10.2196/56407

Posamentier, J., Seibel, K., & DyTang, N. (2023). Preventing youth suicide: A review of school-based practices and how social–emotional learning fits into comprehensive efforts. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(2), 746–759. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211039475

Rangel-Villafaña, J. N., & Jurado-Cárdenas, S. (2022). Definición de suicidio y de los pensamientos y conductas relacionadas con el mismo: una revisión. Psicología y Salud, 32(1). https://doi.org/10.25009/pys.v32i1.2709

*Robinson, J., Hetrick, S., Cox, G., Bendall, S., Yuen, H. P., Yung, A., & Pirkis, J. (2016). Can an Internet-based intervention reduce suicidal ideation, depression and hopelessness among secondary school students: Results from a pilot study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 10(1), 28–35. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.12137

Sánchez-Cervantes, F., Serrano-González, R., & Márquez-Caraveo, M. (2015). Suicidios en menores de 20 años. México 1998-2011. Salud Mental, 38(5), 379–389. https://doi.org/10.17711/SM.0185-3325.2015.051

*Schilling, E. A., Aseltine, R. H., & James, A. (2016). The SOS Suicide Prevention Program: Further Evidence of Efficacy and Effectiveness. Prevention Science, 17(2), 157–166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-015-0594-3

Schmeckenbecher, J., Rattner, K., Cramer, R. J., Plener, P. L., Baran, A., & Kapusta, N. D. (2022). Effectiveness of distance-based suicide interventions: multi-level meta-analysis and systematic review. British Journal of Psychology Open, 8(4), e140. http://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.526

Tarrier, N., Taylor, K., & Gooding, P. (2008). Cognitive-Behavioral interventions to reduce suicide behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Behavior Modification, 32(1), 77–108. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445507304728

Taub, J., & Pearrow, M. (2013). Resilience through violence and bullying prevention in schools. In S. Goldstein & R. Brooks (Eds.), Handbook of resilience in children (pp. 371–386). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3661-4_21

*Testoni, I., Tronca, E., Biancalani, G., Ronconi, L., & Calapai, G. (2020). Beyond the Wall: Death Education at Middle School as Suicide Prevention. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), 2398. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072398

*Tingey, L., Larzelere, F., Goklish, N., Rosenstock, S., Jennings Mayo-Wilson, L., O’Keefe, V., Pablo, E., Goklish, W., Grass, R., Sprengeler, F., Ingalls, A., Craig, M., & Barlow, A. (2020). Behavioral and Mental Health outcomes from an RCT of a Youth Entrepreneurship Intervention among Native American Adolescents.

Children and Youth Services Review, 119, 105603 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105603

*Torcasso, G., & Hilt, L. M. (2017). Suicide prevention among high school students: evaluation of a nonrandomized trial of a multi-stage Suicide Screening Program. Child & Youth Care Forum, 46(1), 35–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-016-9366-x

*Vidot, D. C., Huang, S., Poma, S., Estrada, Y., Lee, T. K., & Prado, G. (2016). Familias Unidas’ Crossover Effects on Suicidal Behaviors among Hispanic Adolescents: Results from an Effectiveness Trial. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 46, S8–S14. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12253

*Walsh, E., Tapp, Z., Mallonee, E., Hakansson, C., Leigh, A., & Reibel, M. (2024). Implementing LEARN: Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Training for High School Students, Parents, and School Personnel. Journal of School Health, 94(11), 1040–1048. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13516

*Wienke, C. M., Labouliere, C. D., Gryglewicz, K., & Karver, M. S. (2019a). The role of youth trainee–trainer Alliance and involvement in school-based prevention: A moderated-mediation model of student gatekeeper suicide prevention training. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 46(2), 209–219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-018-0907-5

*Wienke, C. M., Labouliere, C. D., Gryglewicz, K., & Karver, M. S. (2019b). Adolescent decision-making: The value of perceived behavioral control in predicting engagement in suicide prevention behaviors. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(9), 1784–1795. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01066-3

*Williford, A., Yoder, J., Fulginiti, A., Ortega, L., LoMurray, S., Duncan, D., & Kennedy, N. (2022). Peer Leaders as Gatekeepers and Agents of Change: Understanding How Sources of Strength Reduces Suicide Risk and Promotes Wellness. Child & Youth Care Forum, 51(3), 539–560. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-021-09639-9

World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). LIVE LIFE: An implementation guide for suicide prevention in countries. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026629

World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision. https://icd.who.int/es

World Health Organization (WHO). (2025). Suicide worldwide in 2021: Global health estimates. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240110069

*Wright-Berryman, J., Hudnall, G., Bledsoe, C., & Lloyd, M. (2019). Suicide Concern Reporting among Utah Youths Served by a School-Based Peer-to-Peer Prevention Program. Children & Schools, 41(1), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/cdy026

Citations

Crossref

Scopus
Europe PMC
Sistema OJS 3 - Metabiblioteca |