Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents With Risk Factors
- Conditions
- Suicide Prevention
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Art-based control interventionBehavioral: Primary suicide prevention intervention
- Registration Number
- NCT06551038
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Bern
- Brief Summary
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, and 4) belonging to a sexual or gender minority. 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.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- NOT_YET_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 240
- Vulnerable adolescents defined as being: 1) detained in juvenile detention centers, 2) disconnected from school, 3) in treatment for psychiatric disorders, or 4) belonging to a sexual or gender minority.
- Age 14 to 18 years old.
- Good knowledge of French.
- Accepting to sign the informed consent.
- 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.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Art-based control intervention Art-based control intervention The control intervention will be an art-based activity, a workshop on slam poetry. At the end of the study, participants will get a flyer containing information on suicide prevention with the participants of the control group. Therefore, they will have a low-threshold intervention. Primary suicide prevention intervention Primary suicide prevention intervention The framework of the primary suicide prevention intervention is psychoeducation. The intervention lasts for 90 minutes and is conducted in groups of 5 to 15 (on average 10) participants. It provides general information on suicidal behaviors, information about facts and myths about suicide, identification of risk factors and warning signs of suicidal behaviors, and information on ways to seek for help and get support for themselves and others in the canton. The intervention includes a lecture, group discussions based on case examples, and a quiz on facts and myths about suicide. It is conducted by a trained staff member with the support of a psychologist trained in suicide prevention for children and adolescents. It follows a standardized format.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Composite measure of suicide awareness One-week post-baseline 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
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Composite measure of suicide awareness Six-month post-baseline 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
Knowledge on suicide One-week post-baseline; six-month post-baseline 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
Knowledge of local resources One-week post-baseline; six-month post-baseline 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
Suicidal thoughts One-week post-baseline; six-month post-baseline 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.
Psychological distress One-week post-baseline; six-month post-baseline 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.
Access to primary suicide prevention Baseline Self-developed scale on primary suicide prevention training, 3 questions combined in a binary indicator (yes/no)
Attrition Six-month post-baseline Percentage of participants who drop out, continuous variable (0-100), with a higher percentage indicating a higher level of attrition
Trial Locations
- Locations (9)
Vogay
🇨🇭Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
Programme ForMe (anciennement SEMO) et dispositif ProPULSE
🇨🇭Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
Programme Intégration et Formation Professionnelle
🇨🇭Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Centre de Détention et d'Observation La Clairière
🇨🇭Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Dialogai et Totem
🇨🇭Geneva, Switzerland
Agnodice
🇨🇭Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
Centre Thérapeutique de Jour pour Adolescents
🇨🇭Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
Établissement de Détention pour mineurs et jeunes adultes Les Léchaires
🇨🇭Palézieux, Vaud, Switzerland
Unité de Soins Psychiatriques Fermée pour Mineurs
🇨🇭Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland