Combining the Youth-Nominated Support Team with CBT for Black adolescents at acute suicide risk
Integrating the Youth Nominated Support Team (YST) With CBT for Black Youth With Acute Suicide Risk
This project will test whether adding a computer-assisted Youth-Nominated Support Team to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention helps Black adolescents (ages 12-17) who come to an urban emergency setting with suicidal thoughts or self-injury.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 12 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Michigan Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Detroit, Michigan and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07506460 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This open-label pilot will enroll 15 Black adolescents ages 12-17 who present to a Detroit pediatric emergency department with suicidal ideation or self-injurious behavior and are willing to receive outpatient care at a community mental health agency. Participants will receive 12–14 sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) alongside a computer-assisted Youth-Nominated Support Team intervention (eYST). Each youth can nominate up to five supportive adults who will attend an orientation/education session to learn how to support the adolescent between sessions. The trial builds on a prior feasibility pilot (Aim 2a) and focuses on acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness in this specific population.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are self-identified Black adolescents aged 12–17 who present to the participating Detroit emergency department with suicide risk, have a parent/guardian able to consent, can speak English, and are willing to engage in outpatient CBT-SP and nominate support adults.
Not a fit: Youth who cannot complete consent/assent in English, lack a parent/guardian to provide consent, are actively in specialty mental health treatment, have severe agitation/psychosis or cognitive impairment, or who already participated in Aim 2a are unlikely to benefit from this pilot.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined intervention could strengthen protective supports and reduce suicidal thoughts or self-injurious behaviors among Black adolescents after an emergency visit.
How similar studies have performed: A prior Aim 2a feasibility pilot informed this protocol, and both CBT-SP and Youth-Nominated Support Team approaches have shown promise separately in adolescent suicide prevention, but the combined, computer-assisted approach for Black youth is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Youth Inclusion Criteria: * Patients that are able to provide at least one verifiable contact for emergency or tracking purposes * Willing to receive care at MiSide * Present to an acute emergency care setting with suicide risk (per protocol) * Self-identify as Black * Willing and able to complete enrollment procedures * Willing and able to provide signed and dated informed assent Youth Exclusion Criteria: * 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 * Participated in the Aim 2a open trial Parent/Guardian Inclusion Criteria: * Adults 18 years and older * The parent or legal guardian of a youth participating in this Aim * Understand written and spoken English * Willing and able to complete enrollment procedures * Willing and able to provide signed and dated informed consent * Need to have access to technology, either cell or an email address 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
- Children's Hospital of Michigan (CHM) Emergency Department — Detroit, Michigan, United States (Recruiting)
- MiSide — Detroit, Michigan, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Cynthia Ewell Foster, PhD — University of Michigan
- Study coordinator: Christina Magness, LMSW
- Email: cmagness@med.umich.edu
- Phone: 734-252-6315
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.