Peer- and family-supported brief suicide prevention for Nepali youth
Innovations for peer-delivered and family-engaged brief interventions for youth suicide in Nepal: A pilot hybrid type 2 implementation study
This project offers short, peer-delivered safety plans and follow-up, together with trusted family support, for young people in Nepal aged 12–24 who are at risk of suicide.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11401638 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm a young person in Nepal worried about suicide, this program asks me and other youth to help design short, practical safety plans and a follow-up system delivered by trained peer volunteers. The safety plan can be carried in a personalized piece of youth-designed jewelry, and peers will use clear steps to safely involve trusted family members when appropriate. A local NGO (SOCHAI) and supervisors will support peers as they work in a rural area of Makwanpur District, and researchers will collect feedback and simple outcome measures to refine the approach. The goal is to pilot the program locally so it can be expanded or tested in a larger trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young people aged 12–24 living in Nepal (especially in Makwanpur District) who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or recent self-harm and are willing to work with peer volunteers and involve trusted family when safe.
Not a fit: Children under 12, adults over 24, people outside the project area, or those needing immediate inpatient psychiatric or medical stabilization are unlikely to benefit from this brief community-based program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower suicidal thoughts and improve coping and support for Nepali youth by providing quick, culturally appropriate help led by peers and families.
How similar studies have performed: Related brief interventions like safety planning and follow-up have shown promise in South Asia, but delivering plans via personalized jewelry and formal family-engagement procedures is a new adaptation.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hagaman, Ashley K — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Hagaman, Ashley K
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.