ICMRs Multistate Implementation Research Study on Suicide Risk Reduction and Improving Mental Well Being Among School and College Students

This implementation study aims to evaluate a scalable, multicomponent intervention in schools and colleges across eight Indian states and union territories. The package spans care from promotion and prevention to enhancing help-seeking, early identification, crisis intervention, and postvention. Objectives include developing and assessing an implementation model for achieving reduction of suicide risk behavior (perceived stress, depressive symptoms , low help seeking) in selected educational institutes. The study will use a mixed methods design and the Updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Based on the findings derived from the formative research work, the implementation model will undergo iterative cycles for optimization. The final phase focuses on monitoring, evaluating the optimized model’s implementation, and assessing its sustainability. The primary outcome aims at reduction of suicide risk behaviors among school and college students in selected districts. Identification of the key barriers and facilitating factors and assessing implementation outcomes including implementation costs will be documented for suggesting recommendations regarding potential nation-wide scaling.