Culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy for suicidal adolescents in Mexico City

Implementation and pilot testing of a culturally centered CBT protocol for suicidal behaviors among youth in Mexico City

NIH-funded research Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital · NIH-11383286

A culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy program is being offered to help adolescents in Mexico City who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or recent suicide attempts.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEmma Pendleton Bradley Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Riverside, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11383286 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you or a teen you care for join, the team will adapt CBT to fit Mexican cultural beliefs and language so the therapy feels relevant. Providers at local clinics will be trained to deliver the adapted therapy and the program will be offered to adolescents who have had suicidal thoughts or attempts. The project will pilot the approach in a small group to see if teens attend, engage, and show reductions in suicidal thoughts and self-harm. The team will collect feedback from youth and providers to refine the therapy before larger trials.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adolescents in Mexico City who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or have recently attempted suicide and who can attend participating local clinics are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Youth who do not have suicidal behavior, who need immediate inpatient psychiatric care, or who have uncontrolled psychosis or medical instability may not benefit from this outpatient pilot.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make an effective, culturally relevant therapy more available to suicidal adolescents in Mexico City and reduce self-harm and suicide risk.

How similar studies have performed: Cognitive behavioral approaches have reduced suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents in high-income countries, but culturally adapted CBT for Mexican youth is relatively new and is being piloted here.

Where this research is happening

Riverside, 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.