Caring Connections Youth Suicide Detection and Intervention Study

Summary

The goal of this pilot randomized control trial (RCT) is to test the feasibility of Caring Connections, a Culturally Adapted Linking Individuals Needing Care (CA-LINC) suicide prevention care coordination intervention for high-risk suicidal youth. This consumer-, community-, and theory-driven care coordination intervention is designed to reduce suicide ideation and behavior (SIB) by improving service engagement. Connections is a 90-day intervention that integrates engagement and follow-up strategies to assess/monitor suicide risk, facilitate service use referrals/linkages, develop/refine safety plans, and create villages of care. The intervention incorporates cultural promotive factors, empowerment, and motivational strategies aimed at supporting youth, enhancing strengths, promoting hope, improving family relationships, and reinforcing caring messages. Primary research questions include:

Is Caring Connections feasible to use for suicidal high-risk youth? Does Caring Connections have the potential to reduce suicide ideation and behaviors among high-risk suicidal youth?

For the pilot RCT, 80 youth participants ages 13-19 who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Caring Connections (n=40) or Treatment as Usual (n=40). Additionally, investigators will enroll 80 caregivers of youth meeting inclusion criteria and 20 Mental Healthcare, Healthcare Providers, Community Stakeholders, and/or Care Coordinators with experience working with suicidal youth. Researchers will compare those receiving Caring Connections with treatment as usual to see if suicidal ideation and behaviors, and engagement.

Conditions

• Suicide
• Suicide Prevention
• Suicide Ideation
• Suicide Attempt

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Caring Connections

Participants received the Caring Connections Intervention.

BEHAVIORAL

Treatment as Usual

Participants received Treatment as Usual

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sonyia C Richardson, Ph.D. · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-14

Primary Completion

2026-10-31

Completion

2026-10-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations