A program to reduce suicide risk in primary care for adolescents

Stepped Approach to Reducing Risk of Suicide in Primary Care

Not applicable Interventional Nationwide Children's Hospital · NCT06018285

This study is testing a new program to see if it can help reduce the risk of suicide in teenagers aged 12-17 who visit their primary care doctors.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment2572 (estimated)
Ages12 Years to 17 Years
SexAll
SponsorNationwide Children's Hospital Academic / other
Locations15 sites (Akron, Ohio and 14 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06018285 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the STARRS-PC intervention, a stepped approach designed to reduce suicide risk among adolescents aged 12-17 in pediatric primary care settings. It involves recruiting 2,572 participants, including both youth and their parents, who will undergo initial assessments and follow-up evaluations over a year. The intervention includes evidence-based clinical pathways for risk detection and management, compared to standard treatment practices. The study will be conducted across 14 primary care clinics, with data collected at multiple time points to assess the intervention's impact.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adolescents aged 12-17 who are identified as being at risk for suicide and receive primary care services.

Not a fit: Patients who are medically or cognitively unable to participate in study procedures or do not have access to a telephone may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce the incidence of suicidal behavior among adolescents in primary care settings.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that stepped care approaches can effectively reduce suicide risk, indicating potential success for this intervention.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria (Youth and Parent):

* All patients between the ages of 12 - 17 years and their parent/guardian at time of consent who are identified as being at risk for suicide and receive primary care services at one of 14 participating sites are eligible for study inclusion.
* Youth will be recruited without regard to current or past histories of mental health problems.
* Youth with comorbid physical illness (e.g., asthma) and those receiving medication treatment for a comorbid physical or psychiatric condition will be eligible to participate provide they otherwise meet study entry criteria.

Inclusion Criteria (Provider):

* Providers must work with patients at one of the participating PCCs.

Exclusion Criteria (Youth and Parent):

Subjects will be excluded for being:

* medically or cognitively unable to participate in study procedures
* without permanent residence or access to a telephone
* unable to speak English adequately to understand study procedures

Exclusion Criteria (Provider):

* Unable to give consent
* Unable to speak English adequately to understand study procedures.

Where this trial is running

Akron, Ohio and 14 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Suicidal IdeationSuicide, AttemptedSuicide PreventionSuicideSTARRS-PCAdolescentRisk AssessmentTriage
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.