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Background: Child maltreatment is because of its prevalence and consequences one of the main reasons for global health inequalities and a major public health problem. The medical field offers many opportunities to support affected children. However, there is often very limited awareness concerning child protection beyond a few engaged professionals. The present work aims to survey the state of knowledge and capacities in view of child protection in the medical field and explores health professionals' perspectives on a potential need for action. Methods: From 06/2016 until 02/2021 3,360 health professionals were interviewed. Using quantitative and qualitative items the questionnaire gathered demographic and professional background information as well as assessments regarding the awareness of child protection, capacities in child protection among health professionals and training offers in medicine. Results: The analysis indicated that the topic child protection in medicine is not as present as the high prevalence demands it. The majority (94.0%; n = 3,159) of the probands stated that they need more knowledge and capacities regarding child protection in medicine. More than half of the probands assessed the importance of the issue child protection as low among health professionals. The reasons cited included child protection as being an uncomfortable topic, unwillingness among managers, and a lack of training on the topic. Conclusions: It turned out that there is too little awareness and importance regarding child protection in the medical field. Hence, it is difficult to ensure an adequate care for those affected. Child protection topics should be made mandatory in the training curricula of all health professionals as well as quality standards for prevention and intervention should be implemented in medical institutions. Key messages: Too little attention is paid to child protection in the medical field. More training in child protection and quality standards must be established in the medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is among the leading causes of death among adolescents and suicide risk is particularly high after discharge from psychiatric inpatient care. Therefore, interventions to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs) among adolescents discharged from psychiatric inpatient care are integral for successful suicide prevention among this group. However, such interventions are scarce. EMIRA aims to close this important gap in mental health services by developing an ecological momentary intervention (i.e., intervention delivered in real-time and within one’s natural setting) consisting of a personalized, automatically triggered crisis support smartphone app to reduce STBs after discharge from psychiatric inpatient care among adolescents aged 14-21 years at risk for suicide. First, we will conduct qualitative interviews with adolescents aged 14-21 years who previously experienced STBs, their parents and health care providers to identify their intervention needs and safety concerns regarding ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Next, we will investigate the short-term variability of STBs and their cognitive and physiological risk factors among adolescents aged 14-21 years using EMA (app-based self-report + wrist worn device). Based on our results and past research we will develop a personalized crisis support smartphone app (mobile safety planning) that is not only self-accessible but starts automatically based on the presence of pre-identified STB risk factors. Finally, we will conduct two consecutive studies to test the feasibility, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the developed ecological momentary intervention in reducing STBs after discharge from psychiatric inpatient care among adolescents aged 14-21 years at risk for suicide. EMIRA has great potential to close a crucial gap in adolescent mental health services and significantly improve suicide prevention among this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]