Text messages to support suicidal adolescents after emergency department visits

Caring Contacts via text message for suicidal adolescents after emergency department discharge

NIH-funded research Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-10785888

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 typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionLurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project IDNIH-10785888 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents who have recently visited the emergency department due to suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Not a fit: Patients who are not adolescents or those who have not experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: Previous research has shown that supportive messaging can be effective in reducing suicide attempts, indicating promise for this approach.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, 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.