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NCT Number: NCT06551038

Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents With Risk Factors

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Suicide Prevention Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Self-Injurious Behavior Suicide

Age range

14 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Dialogai et Totem, Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan

Primary suicide prevention intervention

Behavioral

Psychoeducation workshop

Art-based control intervention

Behavioral

Slam poetry workshop

Primary outcomes

  1. Composite measure of suicide awareness

    Time frame: One-week post-baseline

    Nine-item perceived suicide awareness scale (PSAS-9), assessed on a 5-point scale, score ranging from 0 to 36, with a higher score indicating a higher suicide awareness

Secondary outcomes

  1. Composite measure of suicide awareness

    Time frame: Three-month post-baseline

    Nine-item perceived suicide awareness scale (PSAS-9), assessed on a 5-point scale, score ranging from 0 to 36, with a higher score indicating a higher suicide awareness

  2. Knowledge on suicide

    Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

    Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS), 12 binary (true/false) questions, score ranging from 0 to 12, with a higher score indicating higher knowledge on suicide

  3. Knowledge of local resources

    Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

    Self-developed scale on local resources, 6 binary (true/false) questions, score ranging from 0 to 6, with a higher score indicating higher knowledge of local resources

  4. Suicidal thoughts

    Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

    Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), 10 questions assessed on a 5-point scale, with a score ranging from 0 to 50. A higher score indicates a higher level of suicidal thoughts.

  5. Psychological distress

    Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline

    Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K-6), 6-item scale is assessed on a 5-point scale, with a score ranging from 0 to 24. A higher score indicates a higher level of psychological distress.

  6. Access to primary suicide prevention

    Time frame: Baseline

    Self-developed scale on primary suicide prevention training, 3 questions combined in a binary indicator (yes/no)

  7. Attrition

    Time frame: Three-month post-baseline

    Percentage of participants who drop out, continuous variable (0-100), with a higher percentage indicating a higher level of attrition

Other outcomes

  1. Number of participants with serious adverse events (safety outcome)

    Time frame: One-month post baseline

    Death, life-threatening event, and hospitalisation

  2. Number of participants with adverse events (safety outcome)

    Time frame: One-month post baseline

    Scarification, insomnia, appetite problems, substance use, and para-suicidal endangerment behaviors identified and reported by the local team

  3. Self-reported distress (safety outcome)

    Time frame: One-week post-baseline

    Composite outcome with two questions from Bailey et al. (2017, https://https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000465) related to the distressing and pleasurable nature of the intervention, assessed on a 5-point scale, score ranging from 0 to 8, a higher score indicating higher self-reported distress

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Stéphanie Baggio, Prof.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+41316846774

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Stephanie Baggio

Other

Registry information

Acronym: ESPAIR

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Aug 13, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 18, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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