Keyword: «early diagnosis»

The paper addresses psychological prevention and early identification of suicidal risk in adolescents studying at school. The relevance of the issue is linked to the fact that emotional distress in minors is often shaped by several overlapping factors rather than by a single cause. The aim of the study was to examine the problem theoretically and to test a preventive program designed for adolescents showing signs of risk. The empirical stage was carried out in a secondary school and involved 40 adolescents aged 13–14. The diagnostic set included the Children’s Depression Inventory, T. N. Razuvaeva’s suicidal risk questionnaire, and the method by A. A. Kucher and V. P. Kostyukevich for identifying autoaggressive tendencies. After the initial assessment, a subgroup with elevated risk indicators was identified. A preventive program was then implemented for this group. It focused on emotional self-regulation, a more stable self-attitude, help-seeking skills, and constructive ways of dealing with difficult life situations. The repeated assessment revealed positive shifts in the main indicators. The findings support the view that school-based prevention can serve as an effective means of early assistance when the school psychologist, teachers, parents, and administration work in coordination.