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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05360888

Suicide Intervention for Alaska Native Youth

Two interventions will be delivered virtually to American Indian/Alaska Native youth who have been hospitalized with suicidal attempt, suicidal ideation, or associated risk behaviors, including alcohol-related injury.

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Key information

Conditions

Alaska Native Youth Aged 14 - 24 Alcohol Intoxication Alcohol-Related Disorders Alcoholic Intoxication Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Chemically-Induced Disorders Mental Disorders Self-Injurious Behavior Substance-Related Disorders Suicidal Ideation Suicide Suicide, Attempted

Age range

14 year–24 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Bethel, Alaska, United States

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About this study

The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial whereby Alaska Native (AN) youth who are hospitalized for suicide risk will be randomly assigned to either Qungasvik/Tools for Life or Tools for Life + Motivational Interviewing Social Network (MISN) intervention after their baseline survey, and followed up at 3-, 6-, and 12 months. All youth will receive Tools for Life and two 30-minute virtual follow-up visits (at 2- and 6-weeks post intervention) focused on connectivity to culture and obtaining support from intergenerational social networks in their home communities. Half of the youth will also receive MISN in addition to Tools for Life. Both interventions will be delivered virtually by a wellness team comprised of Alaska Native community behavioral health aides, prevention specialists and/or Elders who function in their communities as natural healers.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Self-identify as Alaska Native youth
  • Between the ages of 14 and 24
  • Admitted to the hospital for suicide attempt, ideation, or associated risk behaviors including alcohol-related injury or acute intoxication

Exclusion criteria

-

Treatment and study plan

Tools for Life

Behavioral

Tools for Life focuses on empowering youth to learn more about their culture and their identity.

Tools for Life + MISN

Behavioral

Tools for Life focuses on empowering youth to learn more about their culture and their identity. MISN focuses on helping youth get support from their community and social networks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Suicide intent/risk

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    We will use the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS) [0 = Never, 10 = Always]

  2. Suicide intent/risk

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    We will use the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS) [0 = Never, 10 = Always]

  3. Suicide intent/risk

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    We will use the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS) [0 = Never, 10 = Always]

  4. Depression

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) [0 -not at all to 3-nearly every day]

  5. Depression

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) [0 -not at all to 3-nearly every day]

  6. Depression

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) [0 -not at all to 3-nearly every day]

  7. Anxiety

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) [0 -not at all to 3-nearly every day]

  8. Anxiety

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) [0 -not at all to 3-nearly every day]

  9. Anxiety

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) [0 -not at all to 3-nearly every day]

  10. Frequency of alcohol use

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Number of days used in the past 30 days. [ 0 to 30]

  11. Frequency of alcohol use

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Number of days used in the past 30 days [ 0 to 30]

  12. Frequency of alcohol use

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Number of days used in the past 30 days [ 0 to 30]

  13. Alcohol use consequences

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Number of times in the past 3 months youth experience 4 different alcohol consequences [0 = Never to 6 = 20 or more times]

  14. Alcohol use consequences

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Number of times in the past 3 months youth experience 4 different alcohol consequences [0 = Never to 6 = 20 or more times]

  15. Alcohol use consequences

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Number of times in the past 3 months youth experience 4 different alcohol consequences [0 = Never to 6 = 20 or more times]

Secondary outcomes

  1. Sobriety self-efficacy

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Three items ask how sure youth are about staying sober from alcohol from 1= def drink to 5 = def not drink

  2. Sobriety self-efficacy

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Three items ask how sure youth are about staying sober from alcohol from 1= def drink to 5 = def not drink

  3. Sobriety self-efficacy

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Three items ask how sure youth are about staying sober from alcohol from 1= def drink to 5 = def not drink

  4. Intentions to be sober from alcohol

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Youth report on intentions to be sober in the next 6 months from 1 = def yes to 4 = def no

  5. Intentions to be sober from alcohol

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Youth report on intentions to be sober in the next 6 months from 1 = def yes to 4 = def no

  6. Intentions to be sober from alcohol

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Youth report on intentions to be sober in the next 6 months from 1 = def yes to 4 = def no

  7. Social network composition

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Participants will be asked to name 15 contacts ("alters") who are at least 18 years of age. Participants will rate each of the 15 people on the same set of questions with categorical response options (about demographics, relationship quality, likelihood to use drugs, etc.). For each participant, the selected responses will be summed across all of the network alters and divided by 15 to produce network composition percentages of the whole set of alters named by the participant (% of AI/ANs, % who engage in heavy drinking).

  8. Social network composition

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Participants will be asked to name 15 contacts ("alters") who are at least 18 years of age. Participants will rate each of the 15 people on the same set of questions with categorical response options (about demographics, relationship quality, likelihood to use drugs, etc.). For each participant, the selected responses will be summed across all of the network alters and divided by 15 to produce network composition percentages of the whole set of alters named by the participant (% of AI/ANs, % who engage in heavy drinking).

  9. Social network composition

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Participants will be asked to name 15 contacts ("alters") who are at least 18 years of age. Participants will rate each of the 15 people on the same set of questions with categorical response options (about demographics, relationship quality, likelihood to use drugs, etc.). For each participant, the selected responses will be summed across all of the network alters and divided by 15 to produce network composition percentages of the whole set of alters named by the participant (% of AI/ANs, % who engage in heavy drinking).

  10. Social network structure

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Participants will rate the relationship strength between each of the 15 named alters. For each alter pair participants will rate if the two people know each other and, if yes, have individuals connected recently. Measures of network structure (i.e., network "connectedness") will be constructed from the set of evaluations for each participant. For example, network "density" will be constructed for the network overall, which is calculated by summing the number of alter pairs who know each other and dividing by the total number of possible ties among 15 alters (105). Individual alter "centrality" will be calculated by summing the number of connections each individual alter has with other alters in the network.

  11. Social network structure

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Participants will rate the relationship strength between each of the 15 named alters. For each alter pair participants will rate if the two people know each other and, if yes, have individuals connected recently. Measures of network structure (i.e., network "connectedness") will be constructed from the set of evaluations for each participant. For example, network "density" will be constructed for the network overall, which is calculated by summing the number of alter pairs who know each other and dividing by the total number of possible ties among 15 alters (105). Individual alter "centrality" will be calculated by summing the number of connections each individual alter has with other alters in the network.

  12. Social network structure

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Participants will rate the relationship strength between each of the 15 named alters. For each alter pair participants will rate if the two people know each other and, if yes, have individuals connected recently. Measures of network structure (i.e., network "connectedness") will be constructed from the set of evaluations for each participant. For example, network "density" will be constructed for the network overall, which is calculated by summing the number of alter pairs who know each other and dividing by the total number of possible ties among 15 alters (105). Individual alter "centrality" will be calculated by summing the number of connections each individual alter has with other alters in the network.

  13. Time spent around peers who use alcohol

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Participants will report on how much time is spent around peers who drink from 0 = never to 3 = often

  14. Time spent around peers who use alcohol

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Participants will report on how much time is spent around peers who drink from 0 = never to 3 = often

  15. Time spent around peers who use alcohol

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Participants will report on how much time is spent around peers who drink from 0 = never to 3 = often

  16. Awareness of connectedness

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Youth report on feelings of connectedness to community, family and environment from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  17. Awareness of connectedness

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Youth report on feelings of connectedness to community, family and environment from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  18. Awareness of connectedness

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Youth report on feelings of connectedness to community, family and environment from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  19. Community protective factors

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Youth Community Protective Factors Scale. Youth report on feelings about different protective factors from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  20. Community protective factors

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Youth Community Protective Factors Scale Youth report on feelings about different community protective factors from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  21. Community protective factors

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Youth Community Protective Factors Scale Youth report on feelings about different community protective factors from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  22. Individual protective factors

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Youth report on feelings about different individual protective factors from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  23. Individual protective factors

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Youth report on feelings about different individual protective factors from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  24. Individual protective factors

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Youth report on feelings about different individual protective factors from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  25. Reasons for life

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    Brief Reasons for Life Scale from 1 not at all important to 5 very important

  26. Reasons for life

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    Brief Reasons for Life Scale from 1 not at all important to 5 very important

  27. Reasons for life

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    Brief Reasons for Life Scale from 1 not at all important to 5 very important

  28. Reflective processes

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 3 months

    The Reflective Processes scale taps a culturally patterned type of awareness and youth report from from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  29. Reflective processes

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

    The Reflective Processes scale taps a culturally patterned type of awareness and youth report from from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

  30. Reflective processes

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months

    The Reflective Processes scale taps a culturally patterned type of awareness and youth report from from 1 = strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

RAND

Other

Collaborators

  • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Registry information

Official study title

Comparative Effectiveness of Two Culturally-Centered Suicide Interventions for Alaska Native Youth

Acronym: BeWeL

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 4, 2022
Registry last updated
May 13, 2026

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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