The 1st SpeechWellness Challenge: Detecting Suicide Risk Among Adolescents

TL;DR

The SpeechWellness Challenge aims to develop speech analysis methods to detect suicide risk in adolescents, providing a non-invasive tool to aid early mental health intervention.

Contribution

This paper introduces the first challenge and dataset focused on using speech to identify suicide risk among adolescents, advancing non-invasive mental health assessment methods.

Findings

Dataset of 600 adolescent speech recordings released

Initial baseline models show promising correlation between speech features and suicide risk

Challenge fosters development of automated speech-based mental health screening tools

Abstract

The 1st SpeechWellness Challenge (SW1) aims to advance methods for detecting current suicide risk in adolescents using speech analysis techniques. Suicide among adolescents is a critical public health issue globally. Early detection of suicidal tendencies can lead to timely intervention and potentially save lives. Traditional methods of assessment often rely on self-reporting or clinical interviews, which may not always be accessible. The SW1 challenge addresses this gap by exploring speech as a non-invasive and readily available indicator of mental health. We release the SW1 dataset which contains speech recordings from 600 adolescents aged 10-18 years. By focusing on speech generated from natural tasks, the challenge seeks to uncover patterns and markers that correlate with current suicide risk.