Creating a safety planning tool for teens at risk of suicide involving firearms

TEEN LENS ED: TEen ENgaged LEthal meaNS planning for the Emergency Department

NIH-funded research University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11052502

This study is creating a helpful safety planning tool for teens at risk of suicide, especially those who might have access to guns, and it wants to hear from both teens and their caregivers about how to make these tools better and safer.

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-11052502 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a user-friendly safety planning tool specifically for teens who are at elevated risk for suicide, particularly those who may have access to firearms. It aims to gather insights from both teens and their caregivers about existing safety planning tools and how they can be improved. By using qualitative methods, the project will co-design an intervention that incorporates the perspectives of both teens and caregivers to effectively limit firearm access. The goal is to enhance the effectiveness of lethal means safety counseling in Emergency Departments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include teens aged 0-21 who are identified as being at elevated risk for suicide and their caregivers.

Not a fit: Patients who are not at risk for suicide or do not have access to firearms may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of suicide among teens by providing them with tailored resources to limit access to firearms.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success in developing safety planning tools for adults, but this approach for teens is relatively novel.

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.