Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41168785›Full record

SynthesisBMC psychiatry2025

Community-based mental health interventions for reducing youth suicidal thoughts and behaviours: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lulu Barker, Samantha Sijing Wang, Md Nazmul Huda, James Rufus John, Weng Tong Wu, Ping-I Daniel Lin, Valsamma Eapen

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Lulu BarkerDiscipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
Samantha Sijing WangDiscipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
Md Nazmul HudaDiscipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
James Rufus JohnDiscipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
Weng Tong WuDiscipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
Ping-I Daniel LinDiscipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
Valsamma EapenDiscipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. v.eapen@unsw.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRates of suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in children and young people (CYP) are on the rise globally. Community-based mental health interventions may offer accessible and scalable support, however there is a paucity of evidence on their effectiveness in this population. We aim to provide an up-to-date synthesis and evaluation of evidence on whether community-based mental health programs targeting CYP (< 18 years) reduce STB and NSSI.

methodsFour electronic databases (PsycINFO, EMBASE, PubMed, and CINAHL) and Google Scholar were searched from October 2013 to June 2024. Eligible studies included controlled trials of CYP (sample mean age < 18 years) conducted in community settings, examining at least one primary outcome of STB or NSSI. Methodological quality was assessed, and findings were summarised using narrative synthesis and, where appropriate, quantitatively through meta-analyses.

resultsFrom 1553 records, 13 studies met inclusion criteria, spanning universal or targeted school-based, digital, family-focused, and community-based programs across 12 countries. Meta-analysis revealed significant reduction in suicidal ideation (Pooled OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44-0.72, p < .00001) and suicide attempts (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.24-0.76, p = .004) following intervention. Suicide planning and NSSI outcomes were less conclusive due to limited data and moderate to high heterogeneity.

conclusionsCommunity-based interventions are effective in reducing suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among CYP, however their effectiveness at reducing NSSI and suicide planning is unclear. These results support the integration of community-based suicide prevention programs into national mental health strategies. Further rigorous, long-term, and culturally inclusive research is necessary to inform efficacious and scalable suicide prevention strategies. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024501756. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Community Mental Health ServicesSelf-Injurious BehaviorSuicidal IdeationSuicide PreventionAdolescentChildHumansSuicide, AttemptedAdolescentsCommunity-based interventionMental health programsNon-suicidal self-injurySuicidal ideationSuicide attemptSuicide planningSuicide preventionSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41168785
PMCPMC12573937

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.