Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents With Risk Factors

Stephanie Baggio240 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

240

Conditions

Suicide Prevention

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 14 YearsMax age: 25 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 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. Exclusion Criteria: * 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.

Locations (19)

Dialogai et Totem

Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Programme ForMe (anciennement SEMO) et dispositif ProPULSE

Plan-les-Ouates, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Centre de Détention et d'Observation La Clairière

Vernier, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Programme Intégration et Formation Professionnelle

Vernier, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Agnodice

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Vogay

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Centre Thérapeutique de Jour pour Adolescents

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Unité de Soins Psychiatriques Fermée pour Mineurs

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Établissement de Détention pour mineurs et jeunes adultes Les Léchaires

Palézieux, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Centre éducatif fermé de Pramont

Sierre, Valais, Switzerland

RECRUITING

...and 9 more locations

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

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

Time frame: One-week post-baseline

Secondary Outcomes

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

Time frame: Three-month post-baseline

Knowledge on suicide

Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS), 12 binary (true/false) questions, score ranging from 0 to 12, with a higher score indicating higher knowledge on suicide

Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

Knowledge of local resources

Self-developed scale on local resources, 6 binary (true/false) questions, score ranging from 0 to 6, with a higher score indicating higher knowledge of local resources

Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

Suicidal thoughts

Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), 10 questions assessed on a 5-point scale, with a score ranging from 0 to 50. A higher score indicates a higher level of suicidal thoughts.

Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

Psychological distress

Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K-6), 6-item scale is assessed on a 5-point scale, with a score ranging from 0 to 24. A higher score indicates a higher level of psychological distress.

Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

Access to primary suicide prevention

Self-developed scale on primary suicide prevention training, 3 questions combined in a binary indicator (yes/no)

Time frame: Baseline

Attrition

Percentage of participants who drop out, continuous variable (0-100), with a higher percentage indicating a higher level of attrition

Time frame: Three-month post-baseline

Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents With Risk Factors

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (19)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

Central Contacts