ALENTAR-J-CM: Large Language Models Application for Large-scale healthcare prevention of mENTal health pRoblems and suicide risk among young people
Mental health problems among adolescents and young people represent one of the most pressing public health challenges in Spain. Among these concerns, suicidal behavior is particularly alarming, with suicide ranking among the leading causes of external mortality in this population. In addition, there is a growing need for preventive strategies that can identify risks before they escalate, enable early intervention when difficulties emerge, and reduce the likelihood of recurrence or worsening over time. Such a preventive approach not only improves the well-being and quality of life of young people but also promotes a more efficient use of health and social care resources.
To address all these challenges, the ALENTAR-J-CM project (Large Language Models Application for Large-scale healthcare prevention of mENTal health pRoblems and suicide risk among young people) was originated as an innovative research initiative focused on the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI)–based solutions. The project’s primary goal is to create a technological prototype powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) that can support mental health professionals in the early identification and assessment of emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression, as well as suicidal behavior among adolescents and young adults.
The project focuses on the analysis of linguistic biomarkers and speech-related characteristics, alongside the development of LLM-based algorithms capable of detecting indicators of emotional distress and psychological risk in young populations. To achieve this objective, the project is structured into several stages, including the initial training of models using existing clinical datasets, the implementation of field studies in real-world settings, the training and validation of LLM-based models using data these field studies, and the design and evaluation of a software prototype intended to support decision-making in clinical and social care environments.
ALENTAR-J-CM brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of experts from academic, healthcare, and technological institutions. Participating organizations include Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) as the coordinating institution, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, and Observatorio del Centro de Psicología Aplicada de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (O-CPA-UAM), together with collaborating organizations such as the Teléfono de la Esperanza and Fundación FAD Juventud.
The ALENTAR-J-CM project aims to position itself at the forefront of mental health prevention through the development of innovative, reliable, and practice-oriented tools, while simultaneously advancing scientific knowledge on the early detection of emotional disorders and suicide risk.
ALENTAR-J-CM is supported by the Dirección General de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica de la Comunidad de Madrid (Orden 3177/2024) through the I+D Technological activities program (TEC-2024/COM-224) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).