Text support for parents of adolescents at risk of suicide after emergency visits

Effectiveness of text-based support for parents of suicidal adolescents following emergency department visits

NIH-funded research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11145215

This study is testing a helpful text message program for parents of teens who have gone through a tough time with suicidal thoughts, aiming to support both the parents and their kids over six weeks after a hospital visit.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project IDNIH-11145215 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of a text-based support system designed for parents of adolescents who have experienced suicidal crises and visited the emergency department. The approach utilizes a Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) framework, which tailors messages to meet the evolving needs of parents over a six-week period following their child's discharge. The intervention includes adolescent-centered texts to encourage parental involvement in suicide prevention and parent-centered texts to support the parents' own well-being. By focusing on both the youth and their caregivers, the research aims to improve outcomes and reduce the risk of future suicide attempts.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are parents of adolescents aged 0-21 who have recently visited the emergency department for suicidal ideation or attempts.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a recent history of suicidal ideation or attempts and whose parents are not involved in their care may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide parents with effective tools and support to help prevent further suicidal behavior in their adolescents.

How similar studies have performed: Previous pilot studies have shown promising results with similar text-based interventions, indicating potential for success in this larger trial.

Where this research is happening

Ann Arbor, 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.