Creating a program to help young children manage emotions and reduce self-harm thoughts
Official title: Development and Pilot Evaluation of an Executive Functioning and Emotion Regulation Intervention for Preadolescent Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11085786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 14, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $601,576 |
| NIH project number | 1R34MH135963-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are preadolescents aged 0-11 who exhibit self-injurious thoughts or behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or do not exhibit self-injurious thoughts or behaviors may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kennedy, Sarah M — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Kennedy, Sarah M
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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.