A digital program to help reduce suicidal thoughts and emotional distress in children during hospital stays.
Official title: I-CARE: The Effectiveness of a Modular Digital Intervention to Reduce Suicidal Ideation and Emotional Distress during Pediatric Psychiatric Boarding
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-10756733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a helpful online program called I-CARE that uses fun videos and activities to support kids and teens who are feeling suicidal while they wait for mental health care in the hospital, making sure they have someone to guide them during their stay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,037,835 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1MH134626-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10756733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents aged 0-21 who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors and are awaiting psychiatric admission.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing suicidal ideation or emotional distress, or those who do not require psychiatric care, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a digital intervention called I-CARE, aimed at supporting children and adolescents experiencing suicidal thoughts while they are waiting for psychiatric care in emergency departments. The program utilizes web-based animated videos and activities based on cognitive behavioral therapy to provide psychosocial skills. It is designed to be facilitated by safety attendants who supervise the youth during their hospital stay, ensuring they receive support even when mental health professionals are not available. The intervention addresses the critical gap in care that has emerged due to increased demand for psychiatric services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce suicidal ideation and emotional distress in children and adolescents during critical waiting periods for psychiatric care.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with digital interventions for mental health, indicating that this approach could be effective in addressing similar issues.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Loud, Keith J — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Loud, Keith J
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.