Safety Planning for Suicide Risk
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial tests a new program called Plan & Protect to determine its effectiveness in making homes safer and reducing the risk of suicide in teens. Designed for kids aged 12-17 who recently visited an emergency room for suicidal thoughts or self-harm, the program uses a tablet to guide teens and their caregivers in creating a safety plan tailored to their needs and cultural background. The trial will compare outcomes between those using the program and those receiving usual care, with a focus on reducing access to firearms and improving medication storage safety at home. Participants must speak English, complete surveys, and have a caregiver who can do the same. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research aimed at enhancing teen safety and well-being.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on safety planning and does not mention medication changes.
What prior data suggests that the Plan & Protect safety planning intervention is safe for adolescents?
Research has shown that safety planning programs like Plan & Protect (P&P) are safe and well-received by teenagers. A study in similar settings found that these programs help young people manage suicidal thoughts by creating personalized safety strategies. This suggests that the Plan & Protect program is a safe choice for addressing suicide risk in teenagers.
Regarding side effects, no major safety issues have been reported with this type of program. Safety planning typically involves structured, short-term activities that equip individuals with tools to handle crises better. Since Plan & Protect is a non-invasive program that uses a tablet, it poses minimal risk to participants.
Overall, current evidence supports the safety of using Plan & Protect in rural emergency departments to help teenagers at risk of suicide.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the Plan & Protect safety planning intervention because it offers a fresh approach to managing suicide risk among adolescents. Unlike traditional methods that often rely solely on medical treatments or therapy sessions, this program uses a tablet-based tool to create personalized safety plans. It stands out by involving both the youth and their caregivers, fostering better communication and engagement. Additionally, it tailors these plans to be culturally sensitive and locally relevant, which can be particularly beneficial during emergency department visits in rural areas. This innovative method aims to enhance safety at home, potentially leading to more effective prevention of suicidal behavior.
What evidence suggests that the Plan & Protect safety planning intervention is effective for reducing suicide risk in adolescents?
Research has shown that safety planning can reduce suicidal thoughts and actions in both children and adults. One study found that safety planning lowered the rate of suicide attempts and deaths by 43%. Evidence also suggests that these plans can make homes safer by promoting the safe storage of guns and medications. In this trial, participants will receive either the "Plan & Protect" safety planning intervention or care as usual. The "Plan & Protect" intervention involves caregivers, which is important for creating a safer home and supporting the teenager's mental health. Another study pointed out that safety planning is a quick and effective way to reduce suicide risk in teenagers.12346
Who Is on the Research Team?
JoAnna K Leyenaar, MD, PhD, MPH
Principal Investigator
Dartmouth College
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adolescents aged 12-17 who are in a mental health crisis, have suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors, and are visiting rural emergency departments. It's not specified who can't join the trial, but typically those with conditions that might interfere with the study or pose additional risks would be excluded.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants complete the tablet-based Plan & Protect (P&P) modules during their ED visit
Follow-up
Participants complete self-report measures at baseline, ~30 days, and ~3 months post-discharge to monitor home safety and suicide risk
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Plan & Protect safety planning intervention
Trial Overview
The 'Plan & Protect' program is being tested against usual care in rural emergency departments to see if it improves home safety by reducing access to firearms and unsafe medication storage, and lowers suicide risk among teens. The study involves completing tablet-based modules during an ED visit and follow-up assessments.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Plan and Protect is a tablet-based program that integrates a youth-facing safety-planning module with a caregiver-facing home safety planning decision aid to create culturally sensitive, locally tailored safety plans and promote caregiver engagement in home safety during rural ED visits for adolescent suicidality
Outcomes for adolescents and their caregivers enrolled during the pre-implementation (usual care) periods at each hospital will be compared to outcomes for those enrolled after their hospital implements the P\&P program as quality improvement
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Trustees of Dartmouth College
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Collaborator
Citations
Safety Planning Interventions for Suicide Prevention in ...
This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of safety planning as a standalone intervention for suicide prevention in children and ...
Safety Planning for Teens in Rural Emergency Departments
Aim: To determine the effectiveness of P&P compared to usual care for youth with suicidality and their caregivers to increase home safety and ...
Effectiveness of Suicide Safety Planning Interventions
Evidence across a range of studies indicates that SSP is effective for reducing suicide behavior (SB) and ideation (SI).
Safety Planning for Youth in the Emergency Department ...
Among adults, safety planning is effective in reducing suicidal behavior (combined rate of suicide attempts and suicide deaths) with a relative risk of 0.57 (95 ...
5.
publications.aap.org
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/1/e2023064800/196189/Suicide-and-Suicide-Risk-in-AdolescentsSuicide and Suicide Risk in Adolescents | Pediatrics
Safety Planning. Safety planning alone can be effective as a brief intervention for reduction of suicide risk but can also be used in ...
Stanley-Brown Safety Plan
A brief intervention to help those experiencing self-harm and suicidal thoughts with a concrete way to mitigate risk and increase safety.
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