Youth Aware Mental Health (YAM)
Youth Aware of Mental Health, also known as YAM, is a school-based program for young people ages 13-17 in which they learn about and discuss mental health. YAM was evaluated in EU-wide Randomized Controlled Trial in which more than 11,000 youth participated. The Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) research project sought to evaluate three school-based interventions for mental health promotion and suicide prevention. Results found YAM effective in reducing new cases of suicide attempts and severe suicidal ideation by approximately 50%. New cases of depression were reduced by approximately 30% in the youth participating in YAM.
In YAM, youth are invited to role-play and discuss everyday situations that are important to them. The topics range from relationships with peers and adults, changes in mood, to feeling sad or facing a stressful situation. As a group, the students reflect on how they might feel if faced by such events and discuss how to handle challenging real-life situations. Emphasis is placed on peer support and information is given on how and where to find professional help if needed.
YAM provides five one-hour classroom sessions over three weeks. Mental health is explored through discussion and role-plays departing from pedagogical materials that include slides, posters, and a booklet for each young person to keep. The YAM instructors work to set a safe environment by valuing and treating the youth present as experts on their own mental health — something that young people tell us they appreciate about YAM.
Montana Safe Schools Center 