Developing and Implementing an Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program in a Community Mental Health Setting

This is a three phase study to develop and implement an adolescent suicide prevention program in a community mental health setting. In Phase 1, needs assessments using qualitative interviews will be conducted at in a community mental health clinic with suicidal teens and their parents, and with community experts including therapy staff who serve patients at a community mental health clinic. In Phase 2, the investigators will develop a new treatment manual that is guided by information obtained in the previously completed needs assessment. The investigators will pilot the program with one group of adolescents (N=10), and make iterative revisions based on feedback. Training sessions will be implemented. In Phase 3, the investigators will conduct an open trial of a group for 40 adolescents at the community mental health clinic to assess feasibility of recruitment, implementation, satisfaction, and outcome. Program outcomes will be utilization, patient and family satisfaction ratings, and improvement in depression and suicide risk measures at discharge from the program and at one month and six months follow-up. In addition, rate of suicidal events (suicide attempt, hospitalization) at one month and six months post-discharge will be compared to historical controls.