| Resumo: | Background- The mental health promotion and prevention of suicidal behavior in schools continues to be an object of study. Knowing the importance of school as a place of intervention, studies with the robustness of the methodological point of view, that confirm the effectiveness of such measures are scarce (Santos et al, 2013). Methods- this project + Contigo is considered a multilevel program, since it promotes the increase of knowledge about mental health, suicidal behaviors and of specific skills to identify and refer risk situations, involving the whole educational community (parents and tutors/ guardians, education agents and students) and health professionals of the reference area. A specialized intervention is conducted with the adolescents throughout the academic year, using sociotherapeutical games which focus on mental health stigma, adolescence, physical and mental well-being, self-concept, depression and problem- -solving strategies. The intervention is assessed in two specific moments: 1st assessment (diagnostic evaluation - before the beginning of the intervention), 2nd assessment (6 months after the intervention). This assessment is carried out through a questionnaire composed of several scales that allow assessing variables such as well-being, coping, self-concept, and depression (Santos et al., 2014). Results- during five years of implementation, 11326 Portuguese adolescents, with 13 years of mean age, showed about 20% of depression, female showed low self-esteem, low well-being, low coping and high levels of depression than male. After the intervention in all these years they decrease depression (2012-2016), increase well-being (2012, 2013), self-concept (2014), coping (2016) when comparing to control group. Discussion-the high prevalence of depression found, the severe impact on the adolescent's physical and mental well- -being, and the strong association between depression and suicidal behaviors require a strategy for the early detection and an adequate treatment and follow-up. As a key place for mental health promotion, the school should be considered as a privileged place to invest not only in prevention, but also in the intervention and referral to mental health care. Therefore, programs should be developed to prevent depression and suicidal behaviors in schools that contribute to assessing the presence and severity of depression and implementing preventive strategies with a view to increasing individual and personal skills, self-esteem, problem-solving skills and help-seeking behaviors, thus reducing the risk factors and increasing the protective factors. This study highlights the importance of increasing the number of mental health professionals in schools, investing in the health professionals' training and practice, and increasing mental health literacy in the educational community (teachers, parents/guardians and students) so as to empower them to identify the signs and symptoms of depression and the risk factors associated with suicidal behaviors, and to provide an informed, appropriate and timely response.
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