Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents With Risk Factors

NCT06551038 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024-01208
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 240
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 19

Brief Summary

Suicide is one of the main causes of death among teenagers. Because it is preventable, primary prevention of suicide has become a public health priority, with encouraging results in promoting suicide awareness and reducing suicidal thoughts among adolescents. However, the lack of studies conducted among vulnerable populations (i.e., marginalised, disengaged and disadvantaged) is a major gap, even though these populations present an increased risk of suicidal behaviour. The aim of this project is to test the effectiveness of a brief primary suicide prevention intervention for vulnerable adolescents, using a randomised controlled trial. Vulnerable adolescents include those 1) detained in juvenile detention centres, 2) at risk of dropping out of school, 3) undergoing treatment for psychiatric disorders, 4) belonging to a sexual or gender diversity, 5) affected by chronic conditions, or 6) with relational/familial problems. The main aim is to test the effectiveness of the intervention on a composite measure of suicide awareness, psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. The project will also explore other issues that present challenges for vulnerable populations: access to primary suicide prevention and non-response bias. The study will provide relevant results to address the current lack of high-quality evidence for primary suicide prevention in adolescents.

Conditions

Suicide Prevention

Keywords

Suicide; Primary prevention; Vulnerable adolescents; Psychological distress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Composite measure of suicide awareness

  Nine-item perceived suicide awareness scale (PSAS-9), assessed on a 5-point scale, score ranging from 0 to 36, with a higher score indicating a higher suicide awareness

  One-week post-baseline

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Composite measure of suicide awareness

  Three-month post-baseline

• Knowledge on suicide

  One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

• Knowledge of local resources

  One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

• Suicidal thoughts

  One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

• Psychological distress

  One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

Other Outcomes (3)

• Number of participants with serious adverse events (safety outcome)

  One-month post baseline

• Number of participants with adverse events (safety outcome)

  One-month post baseline

• Self-reported distress (safety outcome)

  One-week post-baseline

Study Arms (2)

Primary suicide prevention intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The framework of the primary suicide prevention intervention is psychoeducation. The intervention lasts for 90 minutes and is conducted in groups of 5 to 15 (on average 10) participants. It provides general information on suicidal behaviors, information about facts and myths about suicide, identification of risk factors and warning signs of suicidal behaviors, and information on ways to seek for help and get support for themselves and others in the canton. The intervention includes a lecture, group discussions based on case examples, and a quiz on facts and myths about suicide. It is conducted by a trained staff member with the support of a psychologist trained in suicide prevention for children and adolescents. It follows a standardized format.

Behavioral: Primary suicide prevention intervention

Art-based control intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The control intervention will be an art-based activity, a workshop on slam poetry. At the end of the study, participants will get a flyer containing information on suicide prevention with the participants of the control group. Therefore, they will have a low-threshold intervention.

Behavioral: Art-based control intervention

Interventions

Primary suicide prevention intervention BEHAVIORAL

Psychoeducation workshop

Primary suicide prevention intervention

Art-based control intervention BEHAVIORAL

Slam poetry workshop

Art-based control intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 14 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Vulnerable adolescents defined as being: 1) detained in juvenile detention centers, 2) disconnected from school, 3) in treatment for psychiatric disorders, 4) belonging to a sexual or gender minority, 5) affected by chronic conditions, or 6) with relational/familial problems.
• Age 14 to 25 years old.
• Good knowledge of French.
• Accepting to sign the informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• The medical/educational staff considers that the intervention will interfere with appropriate management of acute psychiatric disorder or may cause harm to self or other.
• Being enrolled in another suicide prevention intervention during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Stephanie Baggio: lead

Study Sites (19)

Dialogai et Totem

Geneva, Canton of Geneva, 1201, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Programme ForMe (anciennement SEMO) et dispositif ProPULSE

Plan-les-Ouates, Canton of Geneva, 1228, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Centre de Détention et d'Observation La Clairière

Vernier, Canton of Geneva, 1214, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Programme Intégration et Formation Professionnelle

Vernier, Canton of Geneva, 1214, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Agnodice

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1003, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Vogay

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1003, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Centre Thérapeutique de Jour pour Adolescents

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1005, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Unité de Soins Psychiatriques Fermée pour Mineurs

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1008, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Établissement de Détention pour mineurs et jeunes adultes Les Léchaires

Palézieux, Canton of Vaud, 1607, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Centre éducatif fermé de Pramont

Sierre, Valais, 3977, Switzerland

RECRUITING

CAP Formations, Cité des Métiers

Geneva, 1205, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Unité de Liaison Ambulatoire et Hospitalière, Service de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, HUG

Geneva, 1205, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Foyers de Gilly

Grand-Lancy, 1212, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Foyer de Chailly

Lausanne, 1012, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Ren'Fort

Lausanne, 1018, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Foyer La Pommeraie

Lonay, 1027, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Service des Parcours Individualisé

Onex, 1213, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Le Repuis

Petit Lancy, 1213, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Astural, Parcours A2mains

Thônex, 1226, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Baggio S, Bailey E, Edan A, Heller P, Kapp C, Lambert N, Michaud L, Mundt AP, Nsingi N, Perez S, Peregalli S, Piguet C, Piotrowski C, Prutyanova Y, Rumley M, Sapin M, Urben S, Iglesias K. Evaluating primary suicide prevention in adolescents with risk factors (ESPAIR): study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2025 Nov 24;26(1):537. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-09266-y.

  PMID: 41286939 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Suicide Prevention; Suicide

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Stéphanie Baggio, Prof.

  Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Stéphanie Baggio, Prof.

CONTACT

+41316846774; stephanie.baggio@unibe.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2024
• First Posted: August 13, 2024
• Study Start: March 11, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2028
• Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: After the publication of the main results of the study
• Access Criteria: Upon approval from the principal investigator

Locations

CH (19)