Suicide prevention using safety plans and cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents in Mozambique

Safety Planning and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Suicide Prevention in Mozambique: A Hybrid Effectiveness/Implementation Cluster Randomized Trial

NIH-funded research University of Washington · NIH-11478106

Young people in Mozambican secondary schools will receive safety planning and cognitive behavioral therapy from trained non-specialists to help reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Washington NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-11478106 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would take part in school-based programs that combine a personalized safety plan with a flexible cognitive behavioral therapy designed to help manage suicidal thoughts and actions. The interventions are delivered by trained non-specialist providers in secondary schools and schools are randomly assigned to get the package or standard services. Researchers will follow students over time to track changes in suicidal ideation, behaviors, and other mental health outcomes while documenting how the program can be put into routine use. The project is adapted for the Mozambican context and focuses both on clinical benefit and on practical ways to scale the program in low-resource settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents enrolled in Mozambican secondary schools who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors or are considered at risk.

Not a fit: Younger children, adults, or adolescents who require intensive or specialized psychiatric care may not receive direct benefit from this school-delivered program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce suicidal thoughts and attempts among adolescents and provide a scalable, school-based approach for similar low-resource settings.

How similar studies have performed: Safety planning and cognitive behavioral approaches have shown benefit in other settings, but combining them and delivering them in schools in African low-resource settings is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

Seattle, 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.