Caring Connections Youth Suicide Detection and Intervention Study

Part of paid clinical trials in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Study ID
NCT06353711
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Suicide
  • Suicide Attempt
  • Suicide Ideation
  • Suicide Prevention

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
13 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Caring Connections — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants received the Caring Connections Intervention.
  • Treatment as Usual — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants received Treatment as Usual

Study Details

The goal of this pilot randomized control trial (RCT) is to test the feasibility of Caring Connections, a Culturally Adapted Linking Individuals Needing Care (CA-LINC) suicide prevention care coordination intervention for high-risk suicidal youth. This consumer-, community-, and theory-driven care coordination intervention is designed to reduce suicide ideation and behavior (SIB) by improving service engagement. Connections is a 90-day intervention that integrates engagement and follow-up strategies to assess/monitor suicide risk, facilitate service use referrals/linkages, develop/refine safety plans, and create villages of care. The intervention incorporates cultural promotive factors, empowerment, and motivational strategies aimed at supporting youth, enhancing strengths, promoting hope, improving family relationships, and reinforcing caring messages. Primary research questions include: Is Caring Connections feasible to use for suicidal high-risk youth? Does Caring Connections have the potential to reduce suicide ideation and behaviors among high-risk suicidal youth? For the pilot RCT, 80 youth participants ages 13-19 who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Caring Connections (n=40) or Treatment as Usual (n=40). Additionally, investigators will enroll 80 caregivers of youth meeting inclusion criteria and 20 Mental Healthcare, Healthcare Providers, Community Stakeholders, and/or Care Coordinators with experience working with suicidal youth. Researchers will compare those receiving Caring Connections with treatment as usual to see if suicidal ideation and behaviors, and engagement.

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 14, 2025
Status verified
Mar 2026
Primary completion
Oct 31, 2026
Completion
Oct 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
180 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Experimental: Caring Connections
    Caring Connections is a 90-day culturally adapted LINC intervention developed with and for youth. The Caring Connection intervention integrates engagement and follow-up strategies to assess/monitor suicide risk, facilitate service use referrals/linkages, develop/refine safety plans, and create villages of care. The Caring Connections intervention incorporates culturally promotive factors, empowerment, and motivational strategies to support, enhance strengths, promote hope, improve family relationships, and reinforce caring messages. This consumer-, community-, and theory-driven care coordination intervention is designed to reduce suicide ideation and behavior (SIB) by improving service engagement and delivery standards. Caring Connections is implemented by Peer Support Specialists and Community Health Workers assigned to mental health "hubs" in Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) to facilitate standardization and access to care.
  • Active Comparator: Treatment as Usual
    The treatment-as-usual arm includes care coordination services provided by Peer Support Specialists and Community Health Workers in the faith-based organization mental health hubs. This condition includes screening to determine youth suicide risk (high vs. low). Youth presenting with high risk are typically referred to an inpatient treatment facility. Youth presenting with low risk may be referred to a local outpatient provider. Mental health hub staff may attempt to follow up with families (typically not more than a one-time check-in) to ensure they are connected to the referral source. Following initial referrals, mental health hubs typically continue to provide crisis response and referral services to youth and caregivers as needed.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Suicide Ideation Severity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 30 days, 90 days, 180 days ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
The University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotteNorth Carolina28223
Sonyia C Richardson, Ph.D.
[email protected]
919-445-1235
Margaret Phipps-Bennett, M.S.W.
[email protected]
919-445-1235
Sonyia C Richardson, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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