Can a school program turn the tide on teen suicide?

NCT ID NCT07780084

Running, but no longer taking on new participants.

First seen Aug 21, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026

Summary

This trial tests a stepped-care program for high school students with suicidal thoughts or depressive symptoms. All participants first receive a brief safety-planning session, then are assigned to one of two cognitive-behavioral therapy programs based on symptom severity. The study aims to see if this approach is feasible, acceptable, and effective in reducing suicidal ideation, depression, and self-harm, and improving quality of life.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
A stepped-care program combining CARIBOU-SITB (safety planning) with either Reframe-IT+ or CARIBOU-CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) delivered in schools.
What this could lead to
If effective, this could provide a practical, school-based approach to reduce suicidal ideation, depression, and self-harm in vulnerable adolescents.
What could go wrong
This is an early feasibility study with a small sample, so results may not be conclusive. The intervention's success depends on school participation and student engagement.

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Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

90 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jun 2026

Expected to finish

Dec 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

14 to 18 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Schools * Located in Santiago, Chile * Secondary school (1st through 4th year of secondary school) * At least two classes per grade level * At least 30 students per class * High vulnerability index (≥50%) as measured by the School Vulnerability Index - National Allocation System for Equality (IVE-SINAE) 2. Students * Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 * Suicidal ideation reported in the past month, defined as a score ≥3 on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) * For the Reframe-IT+ Program: mild or moderate depressive symptoms, defined as a score \<20 on the PHQ-9 * For the CARIBOU-CBT Program: severe depressive symptoms, defined as a score ≥20 on the PHQ-9 Exclusion Criteria: * Participation in a manualized suicide prevention program (Reframe-IT+/CARIBOU) in 2025 * Severe psychotic symptoms, defined as clear perceptual disturbances and delusions identified during the invitation interview * Suicide attempt(s) in the past 3 months, or active suicidal ideation requiring hospitalization, as determined during the screening interview * History of a prior medical diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder I or II * History of a prior medical diagnosis of a Severe Eating Disorder (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia) * Severe substance use disorder, meeting any of the following patterns: daily cannabis use throughout the day; excessive alcohol or benzodiazepine use ≥3 times per week; cocaine or opioid use several days per month or more, as determined during the screening interview * Intellectual disability * Inability to speak, read, or write in Spanish

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

depressive disorder Self-Injurious Behavior Suicidal Ideation Suicide Prevention

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Universidad de los Andes

    Santiago, Chile

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.