Long San Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programme

Long San is a settlement in the interior of the Baram District of Miri Division, and SMK Temenggong Datuk Lawai is the main residential secondary school. This school serves the indigenous communities in the area and surrounding settlements.

The Miri Division Health Office, along with Hospital Miri, is conducting this selective prevention programme at this secondary school for the youth and teachers in an underserved area.

The aims of this programme is to encourage awareness of their own health, including coping and risk behaviours, to promote better self-care among the youth. The programme comprises a series of didactic and hands-on activities for the young people, ranging from topics of physical and mental health, gatekeeper skills and coping strategies. There is a concurrent programme for teachers on stress management at work and helping young people in crisis.

The programme will be evaluated for acceptability and effectiveness. We hope that our aims tie in with the overarching theme of changing the narrative for World Suicide Prevention Day.