Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents With Risk Factors
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Primary suicide prevention intervention, Art-based control intervention.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Suicide Prevention. Basic parameters: 14 years — 25 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Switzerland
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Suicide is one of the main causes of death among teenagers. Because it is preventable, primary prevention of suicide has become a public health priority, with encouraging results in promoting suicide awareness and reducing suicidal thoughts among adolescents. However, the lack of studies conducted among vulnerable populations (i.e., marginalised, disengaged and disadvantaged) is a major gap, even though these populations present an increased risk of suicidal behaviour. The aim of this project is to test the effectiveness of a brief primary suicide prevention intervention for vulnerable adolescents, using a randomised controlled trial. Vulnerable adolescents include those 1) detained in juvenile detention centres, 2) at risk of dropping out of school, 3) undergoing treatment for psychiatric disorders, 4) belonging to a sexual or gender diversity, 5) affected by chronic conditions, or 6) with relational/familial problems. The main aim is to test the effectiveness of the intervention on a composite measure of suicide awareness, psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. The project will also explore other issues that present challenges for vulnerable populations: access to primary suicide prevention and non-response bias. The study will provide relevant results to address the current lack of high-quality evidence for primary suicide prevention in adolescents.
Interventions
- Behavioral Primary suicide prevention intervention
Psychoeducation workshop - Behavioral Art-based control intervention
Slam poetry workshop
Primary outcome measures
- Composite measure of suicide awareness [Time frame: One-week post-baseline]
Secondary outcome measures (7)
- Composite measure of suicide awareness [Time frame: Three-month post-baseline]
- Knowledge on suicide [Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline]
- Knowledge of local resources [Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline]
- Suicidal thoughts [Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline]
- Psychological distress [Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline]
- Access to primary suicide prevention [Time frame: Baseline]
- Attrition [Time frame: Three-month post-baseline]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Vulnerable adolescents defined as being: 1) detained in juvenile detention centers, 2) disconnected from school, 3) in treatment for psychiatric disorders, 4) belonging to a sexual or gender minority, 5) affected by chronic conditions, or 6) with relational/familial problems.
- Age 14 to 25 years old.
- Good knowledge of French.
- Accepting to sign the informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- The medical/educational staff considers that the intervention will interfere with appropriate management of acute psychiatric disorder or may cause harm to self or other.
- Being enrolled in another suicide prevention intervention during the study period.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
Switzerland · 19 centers
- Dialogai et Totem — Geneva
- Programme ForMe (anciennement SEMO) et dispositif ProPULSE — Plan-les-Ouates
- Centre de Détention et d'Observation La Clairière — Vernier
- Programme Intégration et Formation Professionnelle — Vernier
- Agnodice — Lausanne
- Vogay — Lausanne
- Centre Thérapeutique de Jour pour Adolescents — Lausanne
- Unité de Soins Psychiatriques Fermée pour Mineurs — Lausanne
- … and 11 more centers
Publications
- Baggio S, Bailey E, Edan A, Heller P, Kapp C, Lambert N, Michaud L, Mundt AP, Nsingi N, Perez S, Peregalli S, Piguet C, Piotrowski C, Prutyanova Y, Rumley M, Sapin M, Urben S, Iglesias K. Evaluating primary suicide prevention in adolescents with risk factors (ESPAIR): study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2025 Nov 24;26(1):537. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-09266-y. PMID 41286939
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06551038 · 2024-01208