Ultra - Brief Crisis IPT-A Based Intervention for Suicidal Children and Adolescents (IPT-A-SCI)

Ultra - Brief Crisis IPT-A Based Intervention for Suicidal Children and Adolescents (IPT-A-SCI)

To address the critical need in crisis intervention for children and adolescents at suicidal risk the investigators developed an ultra-brief acute crisis intervention, based on Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). The current adaptation of IPT-A is comprised of five weekly sessions, followed by monthly follow-up caring email contacts to the patients and their parents, over a period of three months.

In recent years, suicidal behaviors have shown substantial increase worldwide. This trend is also prominent in Israel and has led to a dramatic increase in mental health treatment demand resulting in long wait times and low treatment acceptance rate. To address the critical need in crisis intervention for children and adolescents at suicidal risk, the investigators developed an ultra-brief acute crisis intervention, based on Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). IPT is an evidence-based intervention for various psychopathologies among different age groups. The current adaptation of IPT-A is comprised of five weekly sessions, followed by monthly follow-up caring email contacts to the patients and their parents, over a period of three months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• depression symptoms
• suicidal behavior

Exclusion Criteria:

• acute medical condition
• intellectual disability
• cognitive impairment
• linguistic limitation