Text messages to support suicidal adolescents after emergency department visits
Official title: Caring Contacts via text message for suicidal adolescents after emergency department discharge
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-10785888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a program that sends caring text messages to teens who have gone to the emergency room for suicidal thoughts or behaviors, to help them feel supported and reduce the chances of future suicide attempts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $190,080 |
| NIH project number | 1K23MH135206-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10785888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents who have recently visited the emergency department due to suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents or those who have not experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on providing supportive text messages to adolescents who have visited the emergency department for suicidal thoughts or behaviors. The goal is to reduce the risk of suicide attempts after these critical visits by implementing a program called Caring Contacts. The program involves sending brief, caring messages to these youths to help them feel supported and connected during a vulnerable time. The research will assess the effectiveness of this intervention in preventing future suicide attempts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the number of suicide attempts among adolescents after they leave the emergency department.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that supportive messaging can be effective in reducing suicide attempts, indicating promise for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoffmann, Jennifer Ann — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Hoffmann, Jennifer Ann
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.