Research

SPES Program is also a programme dedicated to scientific research on adolescent suicide and its prevention.

All SPES Program actions are evaluated, and their results are published in scientific papers.

The main publications by the SPES Program research team are listed below.

“Feasibility and preliminary outcome evaluation of a theatre-based gatekeeper training for teachers to prevent adolescent suicide”: a feasibility and preliminary outcome study, based on a quasi-experimental repeated-measures research design with a comparison sample. The study involved 191 teachers assigned to two intervention groups — SPES Workshop, 63 teachers, and SPES Event, 66 teachers — and one comparison group, 62 teachers. Assessments were carried out before, after and at follow-up, with the aim of evaluating teachers’ knowledge about suicide, perceived self-efficacy and ability to use non-verbal communication, as well as the acceptability and feasibility of the interventions. Teachers who took part in SPES events reported higher levels of knowledge about suicide and risk factors, and greater self-efficacy in recognising warning signs in adolescents compared with the control group. More specifically, those who took part in the workshops reported greater awareness in the use of non-verbal communication.

“Performing Arts in Suicide Prevention Strategies: A Scoping Review”: a scoping review on the use of the performing arts in suicide prevention, analysing 35 studies carried out between 1981 and 2021. The review shows that interventions using the performing arts improve awareness, self-efficacy and soft skills, all key elements in suicide prevention.

The results of the following studies are currently being prepared for publication:

“A theatre-based gatekeeper training for adolescent suicide prevention: a cluster randomized controlled trial”: a cluster randomised controlled trial aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the SPES Workshop and SPES Event tools.

“Teachers as Gatekeepers in Adolescent Suicide Prevention: The Role of Suicide-related Knowledge, Empathy, and Collaborative Self-Efficacy”: a study investigating teachers’ knowledge of suicidality and the role of empathy and collaborative self-efficacy.

A study entitled “Cluster RCT on acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of SPES4Teen intervention” is currently underway, supported by Compagnia di San Paolo as part of the 2025 Culture and Health programme. This is a cluster randomised controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of the SPES4TEEN universal prevention intervention.

The results of SPES Program actions have been presented as scientific contributions at several conferences, including: the 21st International Conference on Suicidology and Public Health, Rome, September 2023; the AIP Conference — Italian Association of Psychology, Turin, 2024; and the 30th Congress of the Italian Society of Psychopathology, SOPSI, Rome, February 2026.

They have also been the subject of degree theses in the Master’s Degree Programme in Medicine and Surgery and in the Master’s Degree Programme in Clinical Psychology, Health and Community Interventions.