Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM)

How to access this program/practice?

Visit https://yam-texas.swmed.org/yam-interest to bring YAM to your campus or district.

What is the program? 

Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) is a school-based program for young people ages 13 to 17, in which they learn about and explore the topic of mental health. Students actively engage with the topic of mental health role-play and student-led discussions. YAM has been conducted with more than 85,000 teenagers in 16 countries, and more than 800 people have been trained as YAM instructors worldwide. By creating space for inclusive and youth-led dialogue about mental health, YAM helps grow solidarity among young people and promote positive mental health practices.  

Who is the program for? 

YAM is youth driven and for ages 13 to 17.  

What outcomes does the program produce? 

• Increase youth knowledge about mental health 
• Improve problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence 
• Improve mental health help-seeking behavior
• Reduce risks of suicide 

What is the evidence? 

Wasserman, D., Hoven, C. W., Wasserman, C., Wall, M., Eisenberg, R., Hadlaczky, G., Kelleher, I., Sarchiapone, M., Apter, A., Balazs, J., Bobes, J., Brunner, R., Corcoran, P., Cosman, D., Guillemin, F., Haring, C., Iosue, M., Kaess, M., Kahn, J.-P., … Carli, V. (2015). School-based suicide prevention programmes: The SEYLE cluster-randomised, controlled trial. Lancet (London, England), 385(9977), 1536–1544. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61213-7 

This study used a clustered randomized control trial design to evaluate the effectiveness of YAM and two other suicide prevention programs. Over 11,000 students and 168 schools were involved in the study. Compared to schools in the control group, students at schools implementing YAM programming saw significant reduction in suicide attempts and severe suicidal ideation. At the 12 month follow up 14 youth reported incident suicide attempts in the YAM group while there were 34 attempts reported by youth in the control group during the same period.  

How is the program implemented? 

Two trained adults conduct every YAM program. One adult has completed a week long intensive certification before becoming a YAM instructor and the other completes a shorter training to act as support in the classroom. 

In 5 one-hour sessions over 3 weeks youth are invited to roleplay and discuss everyday situations that are important to them. The topics can range form relationships with peers and adults to changes in mood, 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.  

The YAM program includes education on the following themes: 

1. Awareness about mental health
2. Self-help advice
3. Stress and crisis 
4. Depression and suicidal thoughts 
5. Helping a troubled friend 
6. Getting advice: who to contact 

Who can implement the program? 

YAM adults are trained to be YAM instructors and/or trained to support the classroom instruction of YAM.  

What are the costs and commitments associated with becoming trained in this program? 

Please contact the program for the most recent costs and commitments, as these may change. 

By partnering with the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care (CDRC) at the University of Texas Southwestern, school district personnel and health related institutions can become certified YAM facilitators for free. 

What resources are useful for understanding or implementing the program? 

• YAM website: https://www.y-a-m.org/ 
• 2022 YAM Project update: https://utexas.box.com/s/0639vifqbzkynfcfiz262nxe6feay9js 
• YAM Informational PowerPoint: https://utexas.box.com/s/67893us8ulw5vn37zjcki2125w9orf4k

Rating: Well-Supported 

Secondary components: Early Mental Health Prevention and Intervention; Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention