Integrating the Youth Nominated Support Team (YST) With CBT for Black Youth With Acute Suicide Risk

Clinicians will provide this specialized evidence-based mental health care. The study focuses on the acute phase of CBT-SP, which is 12 sessions. CBT-SP's goals are to reduce suicide risk factors, enhance coping, and prevent future suicidal behavior. Identifying the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or familial processes that precede a suicide crisis is a major focus, which yields an individualized treatment plan. Each session lasts one hour and can be completed either in person or via a secure telehealth platform. Most youths will attend sessions on a weekly basis and therapists typically like to be in contact with parents as well.

Youth will nominate up to 4 trusted adults. Following parental approval, Support Persons will attend an orientation session with their assigned intervention specialist, learn about the youth's difficulties, treatment plan, and receive ideas for supporting the youth. Support Persons will be asked to have contact with the youth each week for up to three months to offer emotional support, encourage participation in treatment, and support the youth's healthy behaviors. Support Persons will have weekly check-ins with their intervention specialist every week for the 3 months of the study. During these calls, Support Persons have an opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns they may have about the youth and how best to support them.