Implementation of a Caregiver-Report Suicide-Risk Screener in Children Under Age 8 in a Behavioral Health Center: A Pilot Study
Washington University School of Medicine
Summary
This project addresses the pressing need for tools to identify suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children aged 4-7. Although young children can experience STBs, current screening tools and guidelines often overlook this age group, partly due to challenges in directly assessing young children. The investigators developed a promising caregiver-report screener that identified at-risk children. This study will evaluate the screener's feasibility and effectiveness in clinical settings, gather feedback from clinicians and caregivers, and refine the screening process. The goal is to facilitate early intervention, improving mental health care and outcomes for young children.
Description
This project aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a caregiver-report suicide risk (STB) screening tool for children under age 8. Despite the rising rates of STBs in young children, tools for identifying at-risk individuals in this age group are limited, and significant resistance remains to screening children for STBs. Given the challenges in directly assessing young children and the lack of validated tools, the investigators developed a caregiver-report screener to detect early signs of STBs. Preliminary data indicate that this screener is both sensitive and specif…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * licensed mental health clinician (e.g., LPC, LMSW, LCSW, MD) in the Hermann Center * provides care to children 4-7 years of age * provides care through the Early Child Intervention, Early Psychiatric Care, or Trauma Response program * must be currently seeing and/or accepting new patients Exclusion Criteria: * none
Interventions
- OtherSITB information
childhood SITB information
Location
- Washington University School of MedicineSt Louis, Missouri