Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents with Risk Factors

Research question

This project aims to test the effectiveness of a brief primary suicide prevention intervention for vulnerable adolescents through a randomized controlled trial (n=240). Vulnerable adolescents include adolescents who are 1) detained in juvenile detention centers, 2) have dropped out of school, 3) are in treatment for psychiatric disorders, and 4) are part of a sexual or gender minority. The main objective is to test the intervention's effectiveness using a composite measure of suicide awareness (primary outcome), as well as psychological distress and suicidal thoughts (secondary outcomes). We will also assess the safety of the intervention. We will also explore other challenges facing vulnerable populations: access to primary suicide prevention and non-response bias. The study will provide relevant findings to address the current lack of high-quality evidence for primary suicide prevention among adolescents.

Overview