Clinical strategy for screening suicidal risk and depression in adolescents during wartime

On December 5–6, 2025, at the National Conference of the Ukrainian Academy of Family Medicine, Svitlana Kaminska, a researcher at The Veteran Mental Health Center of Excellence, Institute of Psychiatry, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, gave a presentation.

Current issue: Wartime increases the risk of depression and suicidal behavior among adolescents. Research confirms the need for effective screening and support.

Practical approach: A three-step strategy proposed by Svitlana Kaminska:

1. Screening: Regular assessment of adolescents’ mental health using global “gold standard” tools to detect depression and suicidal thoughts.
2. Safety plan: An alternative to suicidal contracts, including specific coping strategies to prevent crisis thoughts and support the adolescent.

💬 Call to action: Healthcare professionals, psychologists, and educators can implement these practices to create a safer and more supportive environment for adolescents during challenging times.

Let’s take care of the mental health of our adolescents! 💙