Helping African American teens cope with stress to prevent suicide
Official title: Preventing Suicide in African American Adolescents
Funded at De Paul University · NIH-10875281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a supportive program to help 9th grade African American students in urban areas cope with stress and reduce the risk of suicide, by training social workers to guide them through activities that build resilience and positive coping skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | De Paul University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,300,074 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH118382-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10875281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are African American adolescents in 9th grade who are from low-resourced urban backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in the 9th grade or do not identify as African American may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on a culturally-adapted intervention aimed at preventing suicide among low-resourced, urban African American 9th grade students. It involves training social workers from Rush University to deliver a program called the Adolescent Coping with Stress Course (A-CWS), which has shown promise in reducing suicide risk and anxiety while enhancing coping skills. The program is designed to address the unique challenges faced by these adolescents, fostering positive coping strategies and emotional resilience. Participants will engage in activities that promote adaptive coping and address interpersonal and socio-ecological factors related to mental health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce suicide rates and improve mental health outcomes for African American adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with culturally-adapted interventions for mental health in similar populations, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
De Paul University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robinson, W Lavome — De Paul University
- Study coordinator: Robinson, W Lavome
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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.