Improving access to mental health treatment for youth involved in the justice system at risk for suicide

From Court to the Community: Improving Access to Evidence-Based Treatment for Underserved Justice-Involved Youth At-Risk for Suicide

NIH-funded research Rhode Island Hospital · NIH-11057714

This study is working to improve mental health support for young people involved with the justice system who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide, by training local mental health agencies in Rhode Island to provide better care and support.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRhode Island Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Providence, United States)
Project IDNIH-11057714 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing access to evidence-based mental health treatments for justice-involved youth who are at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It aims to implement a systems-level intervention that trains community mental health agencies in Rhode Island to better serve these vulnerable adolescents. By conducting a cluster randomized trial, the project will evaluate the effectiveness of these training programs in increasing treatment initiation and adherence among youth referred by the Family Court. The study will also gather qualitative data to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing these treatment strategies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are youth aged 0-21 who are involved in the justice system and exhibit suicidal thoughts or non-suicidal self-injury.

Not a fit: Patients who are not involved in the justice system or do not exhibit suicidal thoughts or behaviors may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors among justice-involved youth, improving their overall mental health outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in implementing similar interventions to improve mental health treatment access for underserved populations, indicating a promising approach.

Where this research is happening

Providence, 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.