Yellow September is a widely recognized campaign to raise awareness of suicide prevention. Since school is an important part of the daily lives of children and teenagers, bringing the Yellow September campaign into schools helps promote awareness and prevention within the student community.
In this context, the initiative creates an opportunity to broaden the dialog on mental health, combat stigma, and reduce the taboos that still surround the topic. However, transforming awareness into prevention requires preparation. Schools and professionals need to learn how to recognize the occurrence of emotional distress, to support students, and to seek specialized help when necessary.
Therefore, incorporating these practices into the school routine is essential for strengthening prevention and building a culture of care throughout the year.
Yellow September: The Current Scenario
Recent data underscore the prevalence of suicide as a public health problem. Worldwide, more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year. In young people aged 15 to 29, suicide is the third leading cause of death, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Brazil, the situation is no different. In 2023, 17,009 suicides were recorded,equivalent to a rate of 8.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. This number represents a 9.7% increase compared to 2021, when the country recorded 15,507 deaths by suicide.
In children, teenagers, and young adults, this trend is worrisome. A study conducted by researchers in Fiocruz Bahia and Harvard identified that, between 2011 and 2022, the suicide rate in young Brazilians grew by an average of 6% per year. During the same period, reports of self-harm in people aged 10 to 24 increased by an average of 29% per year.
Yellow September in Schools: Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Suicidal behavior is complex and multifactorial. Therefore, it cannot be explained by a single cause or event. Psychological, social, cultural, biological, and environmental factors can interact to increase a person’s vulnerability.
Among these factors, the presence of mental disorders stands out. TheBrazilian Psychiatric Association (ABP, Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria) indicates that 96.8% of suicide deaths are related to these conditions. However, the presence of a disorder need not mean that a person will attempt suicide.
Given the complexity of suicidal behavior, recognizing changes that indicate emotional distress is crucial for prevention. In schools, educators can play a strategic role in this process, since they interact with students daily.
However, their function is not to diagnose mental disorders or clinically assess suicide risk. It is the educator’s responsibility to recognize situations that require attention, support the student, communicate with the parents/guardians, and activate the protection and referral procedures established by the school.
Key Risk Factors
It is important to remember that risk factors alone do not determine whether a person will exhibit suicidal behavior. Therefore, the assessment should be carried out by qualified professionals, and the context in question should also be considered.
How does suicidal behavior manifest?
The school community need not be proficient in clinical concepts to support a student. However, knowing certain manifestations related to suicidal behavior can help to understand situations that need attention and referral.
These manifestations should not be understood as mandatory steps or as a linear sequence. A person can present different signs and levels of risk, which reinforces the importance of professional assessment.
Yellow September in Schools: Recognizing the Warning Signs
There is no single sign that can indicate that a person will attempt suicide. However, some changes may reveal intense emotional distress. This is especially important when they occur together, persist over time, or represent a significant change in habitual behavior.
In the school environment, it is important to be aware of certain signs:
Given these signs, the educator should not attempt to handle the situation alone. The most important thing is to support them without judgment, take these signs seriously, and follow the protection and referral protocols established by the school.
Practical Strategies for School Management
Yellow September in schools can strengthen prevention efforts, but support and care should be part of the school’s routine throughout the entire year, not just during a limited period. To ensure continuity, schools need clear protocols and a well-prepared support network to provide appropriate assistance and referrals.
Prevention is strengthened when the school understands its role and maintains clear communication with families, health services, and the community’s protection network.
Where to find support and professional help?
In the face of intense emotional distress, crisis, or suicidal ideation, it is essential to seek support and direct the person to specialized services.
Building a Culture of Care all Year Round
Suicide prevention neither begins nor ends in September. It depends on creating environments where children and young people can talk about what they feel, find adults who are prepared to listen to them, and access help when needed.
In this process, qualified information and ongoing training make all the difference. The Ame Sua Mente Institute offers training and materials based on scientific evidence to support educators and school administrators in promoting mental health and building safer and more inclusive environments.
The Institute also provides a mental health help page, with support channels, public services, and guidance for those who need to seek or offer help.
You can also consult our guides and manuals to expand your knowledge about mental health and strengthen your school’s support network.
More than just a campaign, Yellow September in schools can be a starting point for a permanent culture of information, support, prevention, and care.
FAQ – Yellow September in Schools
1. What is Yellow September in schools?
This initiative supports efforts to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention aimed at the school community. This initiative can help students, educators, and families discuss the topic in a responsible and supportive way. Furthermore, it helps to reduce stigma and increase awareness of where to seek help. However, mental health care should be a concern throughout the year, not just during a month like September.
2. What signs of emotional distress can be observed at school?
Certain changes in behavior may indicate that a student is experiencing emotional distress and needs attention. These include sudden isolation, a sharp drop in school performance, significant changes in sleep or appetite, expression of hopelessness, and withdrawal from activities that previously sparked interest. However, no single sign allows us to conclude that there is a risk of suicide, which is why each situation must be properly addressed and evaluated.
3. What should a teacher do when they notice signs of suicidal risk in a student?
The teacher should not attempt to diagnose or assess the student’s situation on their own. Their role is to support the student without judgment, listen attentively, and take expressions of distress seriously. Next, they must inform the responsible team, notify the family, and follow the school’s protection and referral protocols.
4. How can schools address suicide prevention throughout the year?
Prevention can be integrated into the school routine through welcoming protocols, professional training, and strengthening students’ socio-emotional skills. In addition, the school can develop anti-bullying prevention initiatives, promote safe spaces for dialog, and maintain close communication with parents and guardians. Coordination with Primary Health Care Units, CAPS, and other services within the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPs, Rede de Atenção Psicossocial) is also vital. In this way, Yellow September can serve as a starting point for a permanent culture of care.
5. Where can you seek help in a crisis situation or when facing suicide risk?
In situations of intense emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, it is important to seek professional help.
The Center for Life Appreciation (CVV, Centro de Valorização da Vida)offers free and confidential emotional support by phone at 188, available 24 hours a day. It is also possible to seek help at a Primary Health Care Unit (UBS, Unidade Básica de Saúde), a Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS, Centro de Atenção Psicossocial), or other services within the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS, Rede de Atenção Psicossocial).
In cases of imminent risk or emergency, you should call SAMU at 192 or immediately seek care at the nearest UPA (Emergency Care Unit) or hospital.
Sources and Scientific References:
Public Mental Health Policies: Guidelines for a Comprehensive Mental Health Care Model in Brazil (Technical Reference Document. Accessed in September 2026).
American Psychiatric Association (APA):Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – DSM – 5th edition (Accessed Sep/2026).
World Health Organization (WHO): Suicide Fact Sheet — Global Suicide Data (Accessed September 2026).
Agência Brasil / Fiocruz & Harvard: Epidemiological Study on the Increase in Suicide and Self-Harm Rates Among Brazilian Youth (2011-2022) (Accessed September 2026).
Brazilian Psychiatric Association (ABP, Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria): National Yellow September Campaign — Guidelines and Statistics (Accessed September 2026).
Ministry of Health (Brazil): Epidemiological Bulletin on Mortality by Suicide and Structure of the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS)(Accessed September 2026).
Center for Life Appreciation (CVV, Centro de Valorização da Vida): Emotional Support and Suicide Prevention Service (Accessed September 2026).
