Helping rural Appalachian youth with suicide prevention in school clinics
Implementing the NIMH Clinical Pathway in Rural Appalachian School-Based Health Clinics
This project aims to bring a proven suicide prevention program to school health clinics for young people in rural Appalachia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | West Virginia University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Young people in rural Appalachia face a higher risk of suicide and often struggle to get mental health care. School-based health centers are a great place to offer help, like screening for suicide risk and providing follow-up care. This project will adapt a successful suicide prevention program, called the NIMH Clinical Pathway, to fit the unique needs of these rural school clinics. We will work with local youth and providers to make sure the program is helpful and easy to use, gathering early information on how well it works.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young people in rural Appalachian communities who attend school-based health clinics and may be at risk for suicide.
Not a fit: Patients outside of rural Appalachian school-based health clinics or those not at risk for suicide may not directly benefit from this specific program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this project could provide better and more accessible suicide prevention and support for young people in rural Appalachian communities.
How similar studies have performed: The NIMH Clinical Pathway has shown success in addressing suicide risk among urban youth, but its effectiveness in rural Appalachian school clinics is being explored for the first time.
Where this research is happening
Morgantown, United States
- West Virginia University — Morgantown, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christensen, Mary — West Virginia University
- Study coordinator: Christensen, Mary
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 below.