CA-LINC Randomized Control Trial Study
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Summary
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.
Description
Linking Individuals Needing Care (LINC) is a consumer- and theory-driven care coordination intervention designed to reduce suicidal ideations and behaviors by improving service engagement and delivery standards. However, LINC has not been culturally adapted to meet the specific needs of all youth and caregivers, nor has it been integrated with communities whose help-seeking behaviors are often facilitated through non-behavioral health supports. Caring Connections is a proposed adaptation of LINC to meet the specific needs of youth and families by incorporating input from communities whose help…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 13+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
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)…
Interventions
- BehavioralCaring Connections
Participants received the Caring Connections Intervention.
- BehavioralTreatment as Usual
Participants received Treatment as Usual
Location
- The University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina