Preventing Suicide Among Sexual and Gender Diverse Young Adults in Primary Care in Texas

Preventing Suicide Among Sexual and Gender Diverse Young Adults in Primary Care in Texas

The aim of this pilot study is to reduce suicide among sexual and gender diverse youth ages 18-24 years old. This pilot study will compare two brief suicide prevention interventions that have been adapted for use with this population to use in primary care via telehealth and will recruit 40 youth from 4-6 primary care clinics in the Dallas and Austin, Texas metropolitan areas. Each clinic will be randomly assigned to deliver one of the two study interventions.

This is a cluster randomized study focused on youth suicide prevention which will recruit 40 youth from four primary care clinics serving sexual and gender diverse young adults in the Dallas and Austin, TX metropolitan areas. Each clinic will recruit 10 youth. Two clinics will be randomly assigned to deliver each of the two study interventions. The interventions are adapted versions of two existing, brief suicide prevention interventions: 1) Suicidal Teens Accessing Treatment after an ED Visit (STAT-ED) is a brief intervention based on motivational interviewing that focuses on mental health care seeking behavior, problem-solving, and referrals plus brief case management; and 2) Youth-Nominated Support Team for Suicidal Adolescents (YST-II) is a brief intervention developed for youth who have been psychiatrically hospitalized due to a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation. The revised interventions will be called STAT-PC and YST-III. For YST III, participants will identify 1-2 supportive adults from their lives who agree to provide ongoing contact and support. The interventions will last two months. Primary and secondary outcome assessments will be done at baseline and/or at 2 months.

To be eligible, participants must report risk factors for suicide based on screening questions that will be implemented in our primary clinic sites.

Inclusion Criteria:

• be aged 18-24 at the time of enrollment; and
• not have received mental health services in the past 90 days, excluding medication;
• English-speaking, and
• screen positive for suicidal ideation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• are actively suicidal
• have a developmental disability that would preclude them from participating in the study intervention or
• who are impaired due to psychosis, mania, or substance use that would prevent them from providing consent.
• Participants will also be excluded at YST-III sites if they are unable to identify a minimum of one support person to participate in the intervention with them.

Those who are excluded will be provided with referrals for treatment services.