Suicide awareness homophily in adolescent peer support networks: A Swiss cross-sectional social network analysis.

Objective: Suicide awareness, encompassing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to suicide, plays a critical role in primary suicide prevention, especially among adolescents. However, little is known about how perceived suicide awareness is apparent in peer support networks in this population. This study examined the presence of suicide awareness homophily in adolescent peer support networks. We also explored other patterns of homophily and identified factors associated with the in-degree popularity of adolescents. Methods: We used baseline data from a non-randomized, cluster-controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of a universal suicide prevention intervention in Swiss secondary schools (n = 194). We assessed perceived suicide awareness, support networks (including in-degree popularity, i.e., receiving a high number of nominations as a supportive peer), and other covariates. Data were analyzed using social network analyses. Results: We found evidence of suicide awareness homophily in peer support networks, where adolescents with high suicide awareness were more likely to connect with peers having high suicide awareness (p < .001). The same applied to those with low suicide awareness (p < .001). Age also emerged as a significant homophily factor. Girls (p = .024) and adolescents with high instrumental social support (p = .008) were more likely to be popular in peer support networks. Conclusions: This study highlighted the homophily of suicide awareness in peer support networks and the need to focus on strengthening peer support networks and promoting suicide awareness in adolescents, particularly for those with low suicide awareness. Future suicide prevention programs, including peer-led interventions, should consider these findings to better target vulnerable subgroups and reduce suicide-related disparities.

[Attention deficit disorder with/without hyperactivity and obesity in adolescence]. / Trouble du déficit de l'attention avec/ou sans hyperactivité et obésité à l'adolescence.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder associated with significant impairment and distress throughout the lifespan. ADHD is also frequently associated with obesity. Epidemiological studies that have strongly suggested a causal relationship between ADHD and obesity, underscoring the importance of clarifying the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. An important focus has been the link between ADHD-related impulsivity and obesity, potentially mediated by impulsive eating behavior. Studies suggest that targeting the impulsive dimension of ADHD significantly reduces the risk of obesity. ADHD detection and treatment in children, adolescents and adults is important in terms of prevention and managing of obesity across the lifespan.

Le trouble déficitaire de l'attention avec hyperactivité (TDAH) est un trouble neuropsychiatrique prévalent lié à une déficience et à une détresse significative tout au long de la vie. Il est également fréquemment associé à l'obésité, des études épidémiologiques ayant prouvé une relation de cause à effet. Le lien entre l'impulsivité liée au TDAH et l'obésité a fait l'objet d'une attention particulière. Des études suggèrent que le fait de cibler la dimension impulsive du TDAH devrait réduire de manière significative le risque d'obésité. La détection et le traitement du TDAH chez les adolescents souffrant d'obésité sont importants pour la prévention et la prise en charge de cette pathologie souvent réfractaire aux traitements habituels de l'obésité.

Evaluation of a brief universal suicide prevention programme in young people: a cluster-controlled trial in Swiss schools.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in young people. Therefore, suicide prevention in this age group is a public health priority. There is increasing evidence of the efficacy of suicide prevention programmes, but robust empirical studies are still needed. More precisely, data are needed for school-aged children, brief interventions and distal outcomes such as psychological distress or suicidal thoughts. In addition, to our knowledge, no study has yet scientifically evaluated a brief universal suicide prevention programme in Switzerland. This study investigated the efficacy and acceptability of a brief universal suicide prevention programme for school-aged youths. Primary outcomes included knowledge on suicide, perceived suicide awareness and knowledge of help-seeking resources. Secondary outcomes included acceptability coping skills, suicide-related behaviours and psychological distress. METHODS: This non-randomised cluster-controlled trial was conducted in Swiss schools. A 90-minute workshop for universal suicide prevention was delivered to the intervention group (n = 209), and the control group had no intervention (n = 96). Measures were assessed at baseline and after one month. Acceptability was assessed at follow-up in the intervention group only. Data were analysed using three-level mixed effect models with an interaction term between group and time. RESULTS: There were interaction effects between group and time for most outcomes: perceived suicide awareness (p <0.010), knowledge of help-seeking resources (p <0.001), coping planning (p = 0.039), suicidal ideation (p = 0.019) and psychological distress (p = 0.012). There were no interaction effects on suicide-related knowledge (p = 0.312) and coping for social support (p >0.388). Participants found the workshop enjoyable, not upsetting, and worthwhile. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that a brief suicide prevention programme could be beneficial and safe for school-aged youths. This brief programme may contribute to suicide prevention efforts.

Evaluation of A Suicide Prevention Program in Switzerland: Protocol of A Cluster Non-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Suicide is a major public health concern, which disproportionally affects young people. Therefore, effective prevention strategies are needed, but there is a dearth of controlled trials on this topic. Our study will evaluate the effectiveness of a suicide prevention program in Switzerland, where data are scarce. It will test whether the prevention program (1) increases knowledge of suicide and awareness of suicidal risks, (2) provides resources to seek/offer help, (3) increases communication skills related to suicide, (4) increases coping skills, (5) is acceptable, and (6) reduces suicidal ideation and psychological distress. The project will be a single-center cluster non-randomized controlled trial designed to compare an intervention group benefitting from the suicide prevention program with a control group. The potential benefits include a better understanding and evaluation of suicide prevention programs, which may lead to improved primary and secondary prevention practices.