Stepped-care program for children and teens with suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Official title: Examining the Efficacy of a Stratified-Stepped-Care Model for Brief Interpersonal Couseling (IPC) in Youth With Imminent Suicidal Risk: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.
Run by University of Haifa · NCT07321171 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether a stepped-care approach—using low-intensity counseling by trained non-specialists for milder cases and professional therapy for more severe cases—reduces suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents compared with usual clinic care.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 6 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 350 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Haifa Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Petah Tikva) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 7, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | January 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07321171 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Children and adolescents aged 6–18 who are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts, gestures, behaviors, or a recent suicide attempt and who can provide consent/parental permission and participate in Hebrew-language treatment are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with acute medical conditions, current psychotic disorders, diagnosed intellectual disability or unmanaged severe neurodevelopmental disorders, inability to consent, or who cannot participate in Hebrew-language care are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll children and adolescents (ages 6–18) presenting with suicidal thoughts or behaviors at Schneider Children's Medical Center and randomly assign them to a stratified stepped-care (SSC) program or Care as Usual (CAU). The SSC model uses trained non-specialist providers to deliver a manualized low-intensity intervention (IPC-A-SCI) for mild cases and routes more severe cases to professional-delivered interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-A-SCI), with ongoing supervision. Participants will complete assessments at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months to measure suicidal thoughts and behaviors, broader mental health symptoms, access to care, and economic outcomes. The CAU arm follows standard clinic procedures including waitlist brief therapy and routine follow-up.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth while expanding faster and more affordable access to timely mental health care.
How similar studies have gone: Interpersonal therapies and stepped-care/task-shifting approaches have shown promise in some populations and settings, but randomized evidence specifically testing a stratified stepped-care model for suicidal youth is limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must be between 6 and 18 years old, inclusive. * Participants currently exhibit various forms of STB, including suicidal thoughts, gestures, behaviors, or attempted suicide. Exclusion Criteria: * Acute medical conditions. * Current psychotic disorders. * Non-fluency in Hebrew (language of intervention and assessment). * Diagnosed intellectual disability. * Diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders (other than those that commonly co-occur with STB and are deemed manageable by the study team). * Inability to provide informed consent (participant) or parental permission (parent/guardian).
Where it's running
-
Shneider children's Medical Center
Petah Tikva, Israel Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Shira Barzilay, Principal Investigator, Phd
- Email: bshira@haifa.ac.il
- Phone: 972-54-5309759
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.