Friendship Bench plus Safety Planning for adolescents with HIV who have suicidal thoughts in Lilongwe
Suicide Assessment and Feasible Evidence-based Treatments for Youth Living With HIV in Lilongwe: SAFETY Planning Pilot Trial
This project will try the Friendship Bench plus Safety Planning approach to see if it reduces suicidal thoughts and behaviors and improves HIV care for adolescents living with HIV in Lilongwe.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 13 Years to 19 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Pennsylvania Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Lilongwe and 3 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06770101 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized pilot will enroll 60 adolescents (ages 13–19) living with HIV in Lilongwe who report current or past suicidal ideation or behaviors. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to an enhanced Friendship Bench plus Safety Planning intervention or to augmented usual care at participating health centers. The trial will measure feasibility, fidelity, acceptability, and preliminary effects on suicidal ideation/behaviors and HIV engagement. Results will inform a subsequent larger randomized controlled trial and efforts to integrate suicide prevention into routine adolescent HIV care.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adolescents aged 13–19 living with HIV who report current or past suicidal ideation or behaviors, live in the participating clinics' catchment areas in Lilongwe, and can provide consent or assent under Malawi law.
Not a fit: Young people without current or prior suicidal ideation, outside the 13–19 age range, living outside the clinic catchment areas, or unwilling to consent or participate are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors and help adolescents stay engaged in HIV treatment.
How similar studies have performed: The Friendship Bench has reduced depression among adults in sub‑Saharan Africa and safety planning is an evidence‑based suicide prevention tool, but combining them for adolescents with HIV is largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 13-19 * Diagnosed with HIV * Report current or historical suicidal ideation and behaviors (SIBs) on question 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire modified for adolescents (PHQ-9-A) and the Ask Suicide-Screening questionnaire (ASQ) * Living in the clinic's catchment area with intention to remain for more than 1 year * Willing to provide consent (age 18+ or 16-17 years old and married and thereby considered emancipated minors per Malawi law) or assent with parental consent (age 13-17). Exclusion Criteria: * Refuse to participate * Refuse to be audio-taped for in-depth interviews
Where this trial is running
Lilongwe and 3 other locations
- Area 18 Health Center — Lilongwe, Malawi (Recruiting)
- Area 25 Health Center — Lilongwe, Malawi (Recruiting)
- Kawale Health Center — Lilongwe, Malawi (Recruiting)
- Lighthouse Health Center — Lilongwe, Malawi (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Melissa Stockton, PhD — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Melissa Stockton, PhD
- Email: melissaann.stockton@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
- Phone: 1-419-340-7476
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.