Support for caregivers after a child's emergency visit for suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Supporting Caregivers Following Mental Health Emergency Department Visits
This pilot test compares follow-up phone calls and automated MyChart messages to usual care for caregivers of 10–17-year-olds discharged from the ER after suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Ages | 10 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT07411300 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot hybrid effectiveness-implementation type 1 randomized controlled trial enrolls caregivers of youth aged 10–17 who present to Lurie Children's Hospital ED with suicidal thoughts or behaviors and are discharged with a safety plan. Families are randomized to one of three arms: usual care, follow-up phone calls, or automated MyChart messages sent through the electronic medical record. The study will measure caregiver engagement, adherence to the safety plan, and implementation outcomes such as feasibility and acceptability. Findings will inform whether phone or secure-message follow-up can be scaled to improve post-discharge caregiver support in pediatric emergency settings.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are English- or Spanish-speaking parents or guardians of 10–17-year-olds seen in Lurie Children's Hospital ED for suicidal thoughts or behaviors who are discharged with a safety plan and are willing to enroll in MyChart.
Not a fit: Caregivers of youths who are admitted or transferred for inpatient care, youths in state custody, those not proficient in English or Spanish, caregivers unwilling to enroll in MyChart, or additional caregivers beyond the single enrolled per patient are unlikely to benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the interventions could improve caregiver support after discharge, increase adherence to safety plans, and reduce repeat suicidal crises and ED returns.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies of post-discharge follow-up contacts and safety planning have shown reductions in suicidal behavior and ED reuse, but caregiver-directed MyChart messaging is a newer and less-tested approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants are eligible for participation in the current study if they are parent/guardians of youth ages 10-17 who received a psychiatric evaluation in the ED for suicidal thoughts or behaviors and are being discharged with a safety plan Exclusion Criteria: * Parents/guardians will be excluded from recruitment if the youth is in state custody, if they are not proficient in English or Spanish, if the patient is being admitted or transferred for medical or psychiatric hospital admission, or they are not willing to enroll in MyChart through the EMR. The investigators are also only enrolling one caregiver per patient. In other words, if a patient returns to the ED with a different caregiver, the investigators will not enroll the other caregiver.
Where this trial is running
Chicago, Illinois
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Amanda Burnside, PhD
- Email: aburnside@luriechildrens.org
- Phone: 312-227-2785
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.