A Social-Emotional Learning Program for Suicide Prevention through Animal-Assisted Intervention

Abstract

The aim of the study was to carry out a pilot implementation and evaluation of the OverCome-AAI program, a pioneering program for the prevention of suicidal behavior through animal-assisted interventions for young people with high risk factors for suicidal behavior. The study sample consisted of 30 adolescents (11 boys and 19 girls) aged between 14 and 17 years (Mean age = 15.50, SD = 1.60) from the Basque Country (Northern Spain). After the intervention, subjects presented reductions in suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and non-suicidal self-harm, as well as a greater predisposition to seek help. A reduction in the intensity of mental pain was also found, although no differences were observed in indicators of hopelessness and depression. The preliminary results obtained in this pilot study suggest that the OverCome-AAI program may be effective in reducing suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-harm in young people in residential care who present high risk factors for suicide.

Role of pets and animal assisted therapy in suicide prevention

“…Preventive measures in suicidal patients include immediate crisis management with rapid-acting medications and hospital admission of patients who are at extremely elevated risk, creating a safety plan, eliminating any means which may facilitate self-injury, preliminary treatment of underlying psychiatric illnesses, psychotherapy, and assuring the continuity of care between the hospital and primary care/mental health professionals [ 11 , 12 ]. One emerging prevention program that targets such suicide-related factors as isolation and psychological pain is the Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) that incorporate animals for therapeutic benefits and improve general health and well-being [ 13 ].…”

“…Indeed, AAI have been repeatedly shown to have potential to reduce pain, and the symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression [ [24] , [25] , [26] ]. Interaction with animals has been shown to improve blood pressure levels and reduce the levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone [ 13 ]. In a clinical trial with birds, a group of patients with chronic psychiatric disorders was given a bird for therapeutic purposes, and another group was observed with no animal.…”

“…The “Overcome-AAI” is a pioneering program to prevent s suicidal behaviours through animal-assisted intervention. This group-based program consists of six weekly 90-min sessions [ 13 ], with a focus on interpersonal and emotional regulation skill development. The sessions provide information to the participants about the facts, risk factors, and warning signs of suicide.…”

“…For example, the participant would be asked to think a negative thought that may trigger an emotional response leading to suicidal thoughts or behaviours. Immediately, they would practice distracting recreational activities with the animal, which show the participant how important distracting techniques could be with suicidal ideations [ 13 ]. Overcome AAI is an example of animal-assisted therapies helping reduce the risk of suicide, and future programmes could be developed based on this framework.…”

Suicide Interventions in Spain and Japan: A Comparative Systematic Review

“…In the Spanish sample, like prevention interventions, most of these were designed and/or developed for clinical/medical settings, except two that were outpatient [22,54] and one in a residential setting [55]. Regarding the Japanese interventions, a total of four interventions were developed in clinical settings.…”