Promoção da saúde mental e prevenção do suicídio entre adolescentes da comunidade.

The goal of this study is to relate an extension experience in the mental health field among adolescents in a community, with focus on preventing suicide in adolescence. The study describes health educational activities, conducted in two Youth Stations in the town in the countryside of Ceará, which took place in September 2022. The activities were realized by nursing and physical education students, who were members of the Liga Interdiscplinar de Pormoção à Saúde do Adolescente [Interdisciplinary League for Adolescent Health Promotion] at Universidade Estadual Vale do Acaraú [Vale do Acaraú State University] in Sobral-CE, Brazil. The obtained results revealed that the extension activities with adolescents contributed to the participants’ critical thinking skills, enabling them to express their opinions, share personal experiences, and clarify doubts related to the topics discussed. It is concluded that the educational actions carried out by university students are of paramount importance both for the participants and for the students themselves, as they address common issues related to the adolescent population, fostering a valuable exchange of knowledge. Additionally, these actions helped the students become integrated into the community and gain a new perspective on different realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]