Family Navigator Intervention

The Development of a Family Navigator Intervention and Prevention Protocol to Reduce Risk of Suicide and Self-injurious Behavior for Youth Aged 8 to 14 Years

This study will develop and examine the feasibility and acceptability of a family navigator protocol while leveraging digital health communication. It will employ an ecological model within a socio-cultural theoretic framework of mental health service disparities and barriers to treatment.

The purpose of this study is to develop and pilot a Family Navigator intervention with technology-enhanced information sharing for families with youth (80 youth-caregiver dyads) who were discharged from the emergency after an admission for SSIB. This novel intervention aims to reduce suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior risk and prevalence rates by way of increasing attendance to community-based mental health services for youth aged 10 to 14.

Inclusion Criteria:

• youth 10 to 14 years old living at home with legal guardian/caregiver

Exclusion Criteria:

• presentation including psychosis, sexual assault, or child abuse,
• are in police or child protective services' custody,
• are unable to assent due to severity of illness or developmental disabilities, >cannot communicate in English or Spanish, or
• if no caregiver or legal guardian is able to provide consent.