Support system for Black teens at risk of suicide
Answering the Alarm: A System of Care for Black Youth at Risk for Suicide
['FUNDING_R01'] · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · NIH-11145960
This project pilots a program that screens Black teens for suicide risk in emergency rooms and helps connect them to mental health care and follow-up.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11145960 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you are a Black teen who comes to the emergency department, staff would screen you for suicide risk and offer a program called WeCare to link you and your family to quality mental health services and follow-up. The team will gather feedback from youth, parents, clinicians, support staff, and administrators to shape the program so it fits community needs. Clinicians will be trained with a user-friendly manual and implementation supports, and the study will track whether more teens are identified, start treatment, and have fewer suicidal thoughts or attempts. The researchers will also identify what helps or blocks using WeCare in real hospitals so the program can be improved and spread.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Black adolescents who present to participating emergency departments with mental health concerns or signs of suicide risk would be the main candidates.
Not a fit: This program may not be relevant for adults, non-Black youth, or teens who do not visit an emergency department or who already have stable, engaged mental health care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more Black teens at risk be identified in emergency rooms and stay connected to effective mental health care, reducing suicidal thoughts and attempts.
How similar studies have performed: Emergency-department screening and linkage programs have shown promise in broader populations, but a combined, culturally tailored system focused on Black youth is largely untested.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- NEW YORK UNIVERSITY — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LINDSEY, MICHAEL A. — NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LINDSEY, MICHAEL A.
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.