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Caring Connections Youth Suicide Detection and Intervention Study

Recruiting

CA-LINC Randomized Control Trial Study

Who can join

Ages 13 and older · All sexes

Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Youth:

* 13 - 19 years old
* Current or recent history (\<90 days) of suicide ideation, planning, or attempts or nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors per youth or caregiver self-report or positive screen on the Patient Health Questionnaire Adolescent (PHQ-A), C-SSRS, or Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ).
* Able to fluently speak and read English
* Youth with a prior history of difficulty accessing services.
* Written assent to participate in the study (\<18 years old)
* Written consent from a parent/legal guardian/caregiver to participate in the study (\<18 years old)
* Written consent if the youth is ages 18-19

Parents/Legal Guardians/Caregivers:

* The primary caregiver of a youth who meets the above inclusion criteria for the study
* Over the age of 18
* Able to fluently speak and read English
* Without intellectual disabilities
* Provide written consent to participate

Mental Healthcare and/or Healthcare Providers and/or Community Stakeholders:

* Mental Health, behavioral health, substance use and/or health-related professionals who screen/assess for mental health and/or suicide risk or provide referrals, treatment, or follow-up care to youth with a prior history of difficulty accessing services in the surrounding treatment areas based on this risk or community stakeholder (i.e., faith-based leaders, agency directors, advocates, school administrators, hospital/crisis directors, topical experts, etc.).
* Over the age of 18
* Able to fluently speak and read English
* Without intellectual disabilities
* Provide written consent to participate

Care Coordinators:

* Care coordinators who screen/assess for mental health and/or suicide risk or provide referrals, treatment, or follow-up care to underserved youth in the surrounding treatment areas.
* Over the age of 18
* Able to fluently speak and read English
* Without intellectual disabilities

Exclusion Criteria:

Youth:

* Youth at imminent suicide risk (reported verbally and/or indicated on C-SSRS)
* Youth who exhibit severe cognitive, language, or developmental delays
* Youth not meeting inclusion criteria

Parents/Legal Guardians/Caregivers:

* Not meeting the inclusion criteria listed above.

Mental Healthcare and/or Healthcare Providers and/or Community Stakeholders:

* Not meeting the inclusion criteria listed above.

About the study

The goal of this pilot randomized control trial (RCT) is to test the feasibility of Caring Connections, a Culturally Adapted Linking Individuals Needing Care (CA-LINC) suicide prevention care coordination intervention for high-risk suicidal youth. This consumer-, community-, and theory-driven care coordination intervention is designed to reduce suicide ideation and behavior (SIB) by improving service engagement. Connections is a 90-day intervention that integrates engagement and follow-up strategies to assess/monitor suicide risk, facilitate service use referrals/linkages, develop/refine safety plans, and create villages of care. The intervention incorporates cultural promotive factors, empowerment, and motivational strategies aimed at supporting youth, enhancing strengths, promoting hope, improving family relationships, and reinforcing caring messages. Primary research questions include:

Is Caring Connections feasible to use for suicidal high-risk youth? Does Caring Connections have the potential to reduce suicide ideation and behaviors among high-risk suicidal youth?

For the pilot RCT, 80 youth participants ages 13-19 who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Caring Connections (n=40) or Treatment as Usual (n=40). Additionally, investigators will enroll 80 caregivers of youth meeting inclusion criteria and 20 Mental Healthcare, Healthcare Providers, Community Stakeholders, and/or Care Coordinators with experience working with suicidal youth. Researchers will compare those receiving Caring Connections with treatment as usual to see if suicidal ideation and behaviors, and engagement.

What is being tested

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Participants: 180 · Started: Aug 14, 2025

Contact the study team

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06353711

Locations in the U.S.

North CarolinaThe University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte

Conditions

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.