Suicidal Ideation
Conditions
Brief summary
This pilot study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a short-term group psychotherapy intervention for adolescents experiencing suicidal symptoms without immediate suicidal intent. The intervention is implemented within a public child and adolescent mental health clinic and includes emotional processing, interpersonal work, psychoeducation, and parental involvement. The study will evaluate participant engagement, attendance, and preliminary changes in suicidal ideation and related emotional and interpersonal functioning. The goal of the study is to contribute to the development of safe, feasible, and accessible group-based interventions for adolescents at suicide risk within public mental health services.
Detailed description
Adolescent suicidality represents a major clinical and public mental health challenge, with increasing rates of suicidal ideation and related emotional distress among youth. Although evidence-based psychotherapies for suicidal adolescents exist, many are resource-intensive and primarily delivered in individual formats, limiting their accessibility within public mental health systems. This study examines a short-term group psychotherapy intervention ("Circles of Hope") developed for adolescents experiencing suicidal symptoms without immediate suicidal intent. The intervention is designed for implementation within routine public mental health services and aims to provide an accessible and structured therapeutic response for adolescents at suicide risk. The intervention includes emotional processing, interpersonal group work, psychoeducational components, ongoing risk monitoring, and parental involvement. Groups are conducted in a small-group format within a child and adolescent mental health clinic. The primary aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, including recruitment, retention, attendance, and participant engagement. Secondary aims include preliminary examination of changes in suicidal ideation and related emotional and interpersonal outcomes. Participants will complete assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Findings from this study are intended to contribute to the development of safe, feasible, and accessible group-based interventions for adolescents with suicidal symptoms in public mental health settings.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALCircles of Hope Group Psychotherapy
A short-term group psychotherapy intervention for adolescents experiencing suicidal symptoms without immediate suicidal intent. The intervention includes emotional processing, interpersonal group work, psychoeducational components, ongoing risk monitoring, and parental involvement within a public child and adolescent mental health clinic.
Sponsors
University of Haifa
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants will receive a short-term group psychotherapy intervention delivered in small groups within a public child and adolescent mental health clinic. All participants will receive the same intervention, and outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adolescents aged 12-18 years * Presence of suicidal symptoms or suicidal ideation * Ability to participate in a group psychotherapy intervention * Ability to provide informed assent and parental consent
Exclusion criteria
* Immediate suicidal intent requiring urgent hospitalization or intensive intervention * Acute psychotic symptoms or severe cognitive impairment interfering with group participation * Clinical condition preventing participation in a group setting, as determined by clinical assessment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Suicidal Ideation - Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ) | Baseline and immediately post-intervention (after completion of the 8-session intervention) | Suicidal ideation will be assessed using the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ), a self-report measure assessing the frequency and intensity of suicidal thoughts. |
| Suicidal Ideation - Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) | Baseline and immediately post-intervention (after completion of the 8-session intervention) | Suicidal ideation will be assessed using the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI), which assesses cognitive and motivational aspects of suicidal ideation, including planning, wish to die, and perceived ability to act. |
Contacts
CONTACTChen Mike, PhD Candidate
Outcome results
None listed