Combining support teams with therapy for Black youth at risk of suicide

Integrating the Youth Nominated Support Team (YST) With CBT for Black Youth With Acute Suicide Risk

Not applicable Interventional University of Michigan · NCT06941311

This study is testing a new way to help Black teens at risk of suicide by combining therapy with support from trusted adults to see if it makes a difference in their recovery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment36 (estimated)
Ages12 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Michigan Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Detroit, Michigan and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06941311 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a combined intervention that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) with a computer-assisted Youth-Nominated Support Team (eYST) for Black adolescents experiencing acute suicide risk. The intervention will be tested in an open trial involving six participants who will receive 12 sessions of therapy at a community mental health agency after presenting to an emergency department. Participants will also nominate supportive adults in their lives to enhance their treatment experience. The focus is on assessing the feasibility and acceptability of this combined approach.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Black adolescents aged 12 to 17 who present to the emergency department with suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Not a fit: Patients who are actively engaged in specialty mental health treatment or unable to provide informed assent may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve suicide prevention strategies for Black youth by providing tailored support and therapy.

How similar studies have performed: While this specific combination of interventions is novel, similar approaches integrating support systems with therapeutic interventions have shown promise in other studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria for youth:

* Patients of any gender between the ages of 12 and 17 years
* Patients that are able to provide at least one verifiable contact for emergency or tracking purposes
* Eligible for care at MiSide
* Present to the ED with suicide risk (per protocol)
* Self-identify as Black (obtain from face sheet collected in triage)
* Willing and able to complete enrollment procedures
* Willing and able to provide signed and dated informed assent

Exclusion criteria for youth:

* Unable to be consented in English
* Do not have a parent/legal guardian available to provide consent
* Are not able to provide informed assent or to participate in the assessment due to significant agitation, psychosis, cognitive impairment, learning disability, or medical trauma
* Actively engaged in specialty mental health treatment

Parent/Guardian Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults 18 years old and older
* The parent or legal guardian of a youth participating in Aim 2
* Understand written and spoken English
* Willing and able to complete enrollment procedures
* Willing and able to provide signed and dated informed consent

Parent/Guardian Exclusion Criteria:

\- Do not understand written and spoken English

Support Person Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults 18 years and older
* Understand written and spoken English
* Approved to serve as a support person by the parent/legal guardian

Support Person Exclusion Criteria:

* Do not understand written and spoken English
* Not approved to serve as a support person by the parent/guardian

Where this trial is running

Detroit, Michigan and 1 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 Suicide PreventionBlack youthAcute suicide riskYouth Nominated Support TeamCognitive Behavioral therapy for Suicide PreventionCommunity Mental HealthSuicide prevention
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.