Education and Social Welfare Experts’ Assessments of the State of the Problem of Juvenile Suicide

This article analyzes the phenomenon of suicidal behavior among minors. The aim of the study is to examine the opinions of experts – specialists in education, upbringing, and social welfare – on the prevention of child and adolescent suicide. The work is based on in-depth online interviews with experts (N = 22) in the fields of psychology, social pedagogy, and social work in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. This study attempts to answer the question of why, despite the large number of preventive measures taken both in Russia as a whole and specifically in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the suicide rate among minors remains high. Experts argue that the effectiveness of preventive measures depends on the comprehensive and systematic work of the family institution and social spheres of the child’s life (education, social protection, psychological services). The prevention process requires the cooperation of parents, teachers, school psychologists, social workers, psychological centers, and various volunteer organizations for children and adolescents. Experts emphasize the importance of addressing child and adolescent suicide and developing effective measures to prevent this phenomenon.