RecruitingNot Applicable

Caring Connections Youth Suicide Detection and Intervention Study

United States180 participantsStarted 2025-08-14

Plain-language 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.

Who can participate

Age range

13 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Youth: * 13 - 19 years old * Current or recent history (\<90 days) of suicide ideation, planning, or attempts or nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors per youth or caregiver self-report or positive screen on the Patient Health Questionnaire Adolescent (PHQ-A), C-SSRS, or Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ). * Able to fluently speak and read English * Youth with a prior history of difficulty accessing services. * Written assent to participate in the study (\<18 years old) * Written consent from a parent/legal guardian/caregiver to participate in the study (\<18 years old) * Written consent if the youth is ages 18-19 Parents/Legal Guardians/Caregivers: * The primary caregiver of a youth who meets the above inclusion criteria for the study * Over the age of 18 * Able to fluently speak and read English * Without intellectual disabilities * Provide written consent to participate Mental Healthcare and/or Healthcare Providers and/or Community Stakeholders: * Mental Health, behavioral health, substance use and/or health-related professionals who screen/assess for mental health and/or suicide risk or provide referrals, treatment, or follow-up care to youth with a prior history of difficulty accessing services in the surrounding treatment areas based on this risk or community stakeholder (i.e., faith-based leaders, agency directors, advocates, school administrators, hospital/crisis directors, topical experts, etc.). * Over the age of 18 * Able to fluently spe…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Suicide Ideation Severity

Timeframe: Baseline, 30 days, 90 days, 180 days

Reported Suicide Attempts

Timeframe: Baseline, 30 days, 90 days, 180 days

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06353711

SponsorUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-05-31

Contact for this trial

Sonyia C Richardson, Ph.D.

919-445-1235 sonyia.richardson@unc.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Suicide trials