Suicide clinical trials at UCLA

This study will adapt Safe Alternatives For Teens and Youth - Acute (SAFETY-A) for implementation in low-resourced school districts to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in mental health service use (MHS) following identification of suicide risk in youth. SAFETY-A will be adapted to fit the organizational context of school districts and to reduce mistrust of MHS, internalized stigma, and concealment of youth emotional distress that arise in school suicide risk assessments with Asian American and Latinx students. Following a prototyping case series, a feasibility trial will assign four districts to the timing of SAFETY-A implementation to generate preliminary data on feasibility and impacts on proposed mechanisms and youth MHS utilization and clinical outcomes across racial/ethnic groups.

This randomized comparative effectiveness trial will compare two evidence-based approaches to emergency care for youth ages 13-24 who present to the Emergency Department (ED) with suicidal ideation or behavior. Outcomes will be monitored at baseline and at 3, 6 & 12 month follow-up assessments.