Building Resilience and Attachment in Vulnerable Adolescents

Brief Group Intervention for Adolescents With Mild to Moderate Suicidal Ideation and Their Caregivers: Preliminary Investigation for a Novel Treatment Approach

Suicide is the second leading cause of mortality for Canadian adolescents. Mental health complaints are one of the leading reasons for an emergency department visit at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and 60% of adolescents report suicidal ideation. The goal of the present investigation is to test the efficacy of a brief group intervention for adolescents with passive suicidal ideation and their caregivers that will focus on coping, familial support, and emotional regulation. The investigators hypothesize that a brief group intervention, delivered in the weeks following presentation for crisis services, will reduce suicidal ideation and improve coping and familial support.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mild to moderate suicidal ideation
• Recently presented for services in response to a psycho-social crisis (Emergency Department, MH Urgent Care)
• One or two caregiver(s) committed to attending the majority of sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of a suicidal plan and/or recent gesture/attempt
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Dual diagnosis
• Developmental disability or delay
• "Behavioural problem" as primary concern
• Major substance abuse
• Currently receiving mental health services (once every two weeks or more frequently)
• Inability to commit to majority of sessions (minimum 4 of 6 sessions)
• Children's aid society involvement
• Inability of at least one caregiver to commit to attending the majority of sessions