Creating a program to help young children manage emotions and reduce self-harm thoughts

Development and Pilot Evaluation of an Executive Functioning and Emotion Regulation Intervention for Preadolescent Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors

NIH-funded research University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11085786

This study is testing a new program called SURE-Kids to help kids aged 0-11 who have thoughts or behaviors of hurting themselves, by focusing on their emotions and thinking skills, and it involves parents to make sure it fits their needs in real-life situations like hospitals and clinics.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Colorado Denver NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11085786 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing and testing a new intervention called SURE-Kids, aimed at helping preadolescents aged 0-11 who experience self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs). The program will address emotional regulation and executive functioning, which are critical areas for this age group. By involving caregivers and tailoring the approach to the developmental needs of children, the intervention seeks to provide effective outpatient treatment options. The research will evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of this intervention in real-world settings, particularly in emergency departments and outpatient care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are preadolescents aged 0-11 who exhibit self-injurious thoughts or behaviors.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 11 years or do not exhibit self-injurious thoughts or behaviors may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a much-needed treatment option for young children struggling with self-harm thoughts and behaviors.

How similar studies have performed: While there is a growing body of research on interventions for older adolescents and adults, this specific approach for preadolescents is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Aurora, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.