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Kamilė Pociūtė
Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University
Presenter
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Virginija Karalienė
Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University; Karoliniškės Polyclinic
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Rokas Šambaras
Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University
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Sigita Lesinskiene
Vilnius University
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Abstract
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Aims: To evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a pilot program conducted at a Mental Health Center (MHC) in Vilnius, Lithuania, as part of the Vilnius City Suicide Prevention Strategy 2020–2024. It aimed to support children and adults whose family members had suicidal thoughts, self-harmed, or committed suicide. Methods: The program included MHC services and school-based lectures titled “Me and My Emotions: How Can I Help Myself.” Participants could select the timing and services that best suited their individual needs from the available program offerings: individual counseling (psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker) and group sessions (psychoeducation, emotional well-being support, water drawing, psychosocial, kinesiotherapy, and mental health specialist group). Participants filled out pre-program questionnaires detailing their age, emotional state, and support preferences, with feedback collected after the program. Results: The program engaged 42 children (31 girls, 11 boys) and 37 adults (33 women, 4 men), delivering 158 individual consultations and 210 group sessions. Participants showed significant improvements in emotional well-being (p < 0.05). A total of 333 students attended school lectures, including 208 children aged 7–12 (97 boys, 93 girls, 18 undisclosed) and 125 adolescents (63 girls, 51 boys, 11 undisclosed). Among them, 88.9% of children and 90.4% of adolescents found the lectures useful, and 77.9 % of children and 81.6 % of adolescents expressed interest in similar future sessions. Conclusions: Providing flexible mental health services at the primary center increased the program’s appeal, reduced stigma, and demonstrated the effectiveness of such initiatives in supporting relatives of individuals who face suicidal behavior.
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