Suicide prevention for homeless youth who use substances
Official title: Suicide Prevention with Substance Using Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11335743 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program tests a cognitive-therapy based approach to prevent suicide among homeless youth who use drugs or alcohol.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $754,439 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058627-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335743 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Substance-using youth experiencing homelessness aged adolescence to young adulthood who have recent suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt.
✕Less likely to help
Youth without recent suicidal thoughts or attempts or those not open to participating in cognitive-therapy based activities may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project works with substance-using youth who are experiencing homelessness and have recent thoughts or acts of self-harm. It tests a cognitive therapy-based intervention to help the youth change thoughts and behaviors related to suicide, using strategies drawn from general cognitive therapy and suicide-specific models. The study will enroll 300 participants, including youth who are not connected to services, and randomly assign them to the new intervention or a comparison condition at a local drop-in center. Researchers will adapt delivery to reach service-disconnected youth and measure outcomes over time to see if the approach reduces suicidal ideation and attempts. The goal is to expand access to an effective, scalable intervention for a high-risk, underserved population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce suicide attempts and improve mental health for homeless youth who use substances.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests cognitive therapy can help reduce suicidal thoughts, but there is limited evidence specifically for homeless, substance-using youth.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Slesnick, Natasha — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Slesnick, Natasha
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mobile safety planning for at-risk young adults
A digital, text-based safety planning program for young adults (ages 18–24) to help prevent suicide and stay connected to support.
-
INCLUSAVE: helping young adults with IDD access suicide-prevention trainings
A new NIH grant studies whether two proven gatekeeper trainings (ASIST and safeTALK) can be delivered in inclusive settings to support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their communities.
-
Technology-assisted suicide prevention for youth in Colombian school settings
A youth-focused program will test a culturally tailored digital platform and teacher training to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in schools.
-
Qnnections: A Social Connection‑Focused Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Veterans
A new group-based program tailored for LGBTQ+ Veterans aims to strengthen belonging and reduce burdensomeness to help prevent suicide.
-
Nurse- and Peer-Led Suicide Prevention for Women in Tajikistan
A nurse- and peer-led program in Tajikistan aims to help women at risk of suicide by adding tailored, frontline support in primary care.
-
Targeted online suicide prevention for Veterans
A web-based, one-session intervention for Veterans to reduce thoughts of suicide and self-harm by helping them manage distress and rigid thinking.
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.