Comparing Emergency Department Safety Planning Alone Versus Safety Planning Plus Follow-Up for Youth Ages 13-24 With Suicidal Thoughts or Behavior

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating two evidence-based approaches to emergency care for youth ages 13 to 24 who come to the Emergency Department ED with suicidal thoughts or behavior. This trial aims to find out whether adding follow-up therapy after ED care improves outcomes compared to ED care alone. The study also looks at which groups, such as racial or ethnic minorities and rural youth, may benefit most from combined treatments. This is a randomized, double-masked study involving a large and diverse sample across four communities. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either the SAFETY-A intervention within usual ED care, which is a single-session cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on safety planning and treatment motivation, or a combined treatment including SAFETY-A plus CLASP, which involves therapeutic follow-up contacts after discharge to strengthen safety and encourage mental health treatment engagement. Both interventions use collaborative, strengths-based approaches involving the youth and their family or significant others. Youth will be assessed at the start of the study and then followed for 12 months, with evaluations at 3, 6, and 12 months. Researchers will monitor suicide attempts, initiation of mental health treatment, self-harm behavior, treatment engagement, and improvements in suicidality and quality of life. The study also involves stakeholder partners to enhance relevance and dissemination. Participant safety and treatment outcomes will be closely tracked throughout the follow-up period.

Safe Treatment for Emergency Presentation for Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in Youth