EU study to promote health and reduce risk-taking and self-destructive behavior in young people

Dec 3 2009

At the beginning of 2010, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at the Center for Psychosocial Medicine at Heidelberg University Hospital will conduct a study named "Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) - promoting the health of young people through the prevention of risk-taking and self-destructive behavior" in cooperation with twelve centers in other EU countries and Israel.

The 12-month study, which will receive some 3 million euros in funding from the European Union, was presented in a press conference held in Heidelberg on November 24, 2009. The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm will assume the Europe-wide direction of the study.

Promote health, reduce injurious behavior

Risk-taking and self-destructive behavior is understood to mean alcohol and drug consumption, self-injury and suicidal actions, aggression, anxiety, depression, and various dangerous situations that youth in particular expose themselves to.

The primary objective of the study is to promote the psychological health of youth at schools. To do this, over 1,000 pupils per country will be surveyed by means of questionnaires. In the Rhein-Neckar region, several types of secondary schools will participate. Information will be gathered on factors such as eating behavior, Internet and media use, depression, and social situation. "This information will indicate the extent of the problems and which pupils are at risk," explains the head of the study Professor Dr. Romuald Brunner, consultant at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Heidelberg University Hospital.

"The SEYLE study builds on the experience of the "Heidelberg school study" that has been examining the psychological health of 15-year-olds for many years," reported Professor Dr. Franz Resch, Medical Director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Heidelberg University Hospital. Among other things, this study determined that some 5 percent of female pupils and 2 percent of male pupils frequently inflicted injuries on themselves.

Four different preventive measures to be tested

In the SEYLE study, following the initial survey, one of a total of four different preventive measures will be conducted at every participating school and then examined as to effectiveness.

1. "Gatekeeper Training" for teachers and school staff to recognize and help at-risk pupils.
2. "Awareness Program", in which pupils learn to deal with the risks by engaging in role-play.
3. "Professional Screening": after evaluation of the questionnaires, at-risk pupils are identified and interviewed.
4. Minimal intervention with posters and contact information for pupils.

Use regional help centers and treatment systems

All preventive measures are conducted in close cooperation with regional outpatient treatment systems and therapists and should introduce youth who exhibit risk-taking and self-injurious behavior to these regional help centers and treatment systems. In the longer term, the goal is to establish effective preventive measures for all schools.

The results of the study should help develop a comprehensive, country-specific concept for youth that takes the needs and wishes of all involved into consideration and can be integrated as a fixed component of preventive healthcare in Germany and other countries.

Source: University Hospital Heidelberg