Depressive symptoms affect 40% of adolescents in 259 schools evaluated

A study by the Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra (ESEUC) through the 'Mais Contigo' program found that 40.3% of students from 259 schools reported symptoms of depression, ranging from mild to severe, during the 2025-2026 school year. The program, which works with students from 7th to 12th grade to address mental health and suicide prevention, identified that over 2,000 participants were at risk of suicidal behavior.