Implementation of a Caregiver-Report Suicide-Risk Screener in Children Under Age 8 in a Behavioral Health Center

Overview

This project addresses the pressing need for tools to identify suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children aged 4-7. Although young children can experience STBs, current screening tools and guidelines often overlook this age group, partly due to challenges in directly assessing young children. The investigators developed a promising caregiver-report screener that identified at-risk children. This study will evaluate the screener's feasibility and effectiveness in clinical settings, gather feedback from clinicians and caregivers, and refine the screening process. The goal is to facilitate early intervention, improving mental health care and outcomes for young children.

This project aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a caregiver-report suicide risk (STB) screening tool for children under age 8. Despite the rising rates of STBs in young children, tools for identifying at-risk individuals in this age group are limited, and significant resistance remains to screening children for STBs. Given the challenges in directly assessing young children and the lack of validated tools, the investigators developed a caregiver-report screener to detect early signs of STBs. Preliminary data indicate that this screener is both sensitive and specific, showing promise in identifying at-risk children. The proposed study will evaluate the implementation of this screener in a child behavioral health clinic, obtaining qualitative and quantitative feedback from both clinicians and caregivers to refine the screener and its integration into clinical workflows. Additionally, the investigators will assess how clinicians use the screener results in diagnostic and treatment planning. This study will provide critical insights into barriers and best practices for STB screening in young children, ultimately improving early identification and clinical care for at-risk youth.