Brief Suicide Intervention for Youth in Juvenile Detention Settings

NCT05225103 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: Pro00106321R34MH124986
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 8
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This is an intervention development study and therefore is not designed or powered to test hypotheses. Following initial development and refinement of intervention and protocol, an open trial will be conducted at one juvenile detention facility (n=20). Following further refinement, six juvenile detention sites will be randomized to first or second wave of intervention implementation. All youth at an implementation site in suicidal crises will receive the intervention. Data will only be collected from youth with prior assent/consent. Youth will be assessed at the time of the suicidal/self-harm crisis, and at 2 and 4 weeks after initial intervention, and at a two-month follow-up assessment. We will preliminarily examine feasibility of the intervention and associated patterns of suicidal thoughts and behavior and non-suicidal self-injury, linkage to care following release, and presumed mechanisms of change such as hopelessness, self-efficacy to remain safe, urgency to act on suicidal thoughts, and acceptance.

Conditions

Suicide Prevention

Keywords

Juvenile detention; suicidal thoughts

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Number of Participants Who Reported Suicide Attempts as Measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)

  Determined by a response of "yes" to question #6 on the C-SSRS: "Have you done anything, started to do anything, or prepared to do anything to end your life?"

  Up to 2 month follow-up assessment

• Number of Participants Who Reported Non-Suicidal Self Injury

  Assessed with Questions from the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behavior Interview.

  Up to 2 month follow-up assessment

• Number of Participants Who Were Linked to Mental Health Services After Release

  Assessed by CASA (Child and Adolescent Services Assessment) Parent Interview.

  Up to 2 month follow-up assessment

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Number of Participants Reporting Urgency to Act on Suicidal Thoughts

  Up to 2-month follow-up assessment

• Number of Participants Reporting Hope and Reasons for Living After Leaving the Facility

  Up to 2-month follow-up assessment

• Number of Participants Who Report Acceptance of Their Current Situation

  Up to 2-month follow-up assessment

• Number of Participants Reporting Self-Efficacy in Keeping Safe

  Up to 2-month follow-up assessment

• Number of Individuals With Emergency Mental Health Services (ED Visits and Hospitalizations)

  Up to 2-month follow-up assessment

Study Arms (1)

SAFETY-A Implementation Sites

EXPERIMENTAL

New Brief Trauma-Informed Intervention (based on SAFETY-A) in addition to Enhanced Usual Care in Juvenile Detention Sites

Behavioral: SAFETY-Acute intervention

Interventions

SAFETY-Acute intervention BEHAVIORAL

The trauma-informed brief suicide intervention based on the SAFETY-A (single crisis session in addition to follow-up caring contacts). Delivered in addition to usual care in facilities.

SAFETY-A Implementation Sites

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• English speaking
• At least 13 years of age or older and 18 years old or younger
• Without evidence from school or other records of intellectual disability
• Without evidence of active psychosis
• Not wards of the state
• Risk for suicidal behavior or non-suicidal self-harm behavior

You may not qualify if:

• Not English-speaking or caregivers are not English-speaking
• Wards of the state
• Younger than 13 years old or older than 18 years of age
• Evidence from school or other records or suspected intellectual disability
• Active psychosis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Duke University: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States

Location

Wake Forest School of Medicine

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27101, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Suicide Prevention; Suicidal Ideation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Limitations and Caveats

As an intervention development study, this study is not powered to test hypotheses. Rather, the purpose of this study is to demonstrate feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and procedures, and to demonstrate viability of the proof of concept. Full implementation at all but one of the facilities was challenging because of overcrowding and understaffing.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: David Goldston
• Organization: Duke University

david.goldston@duke.edu

919-681-1100

Study Officials

• David Goldston, PhD

  Duke University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Open Trial is Single Group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 25, 2022
• First Posted: February 4, 2022
• Study Start: April 7, 2023
• Primary Completion: February 29, 2024
• Study Completion: February 29, 2024
• Last Updated: August 19, 2025
• Results First Posted: August 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)