The BH-Works Suicide Prevention Program for Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Launched by VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY · Jun 16, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study tests a new way to prevent suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by using a web-based program called BH-Works, adapted for LGBTQ organizations. BH-Works offers universal screening for behavioral health risks, an electronic referral system to connect youth with needed services, safety planning, and real-time data to help organizations improve their approach. The researchers will adapt and try out this program in LGBTQ groups in Philadelphia, PA and in rural Southwest Virginia, with the goal of seeing if it is feasible, acceptable, and shows early signs of helping youth get started with mental health support.

Eligible participants are youth ages 14 to 19 who are seeking services at participating LGBTQ organizations and who report current thoughts of suicide on the screening tool. The study involves a one-month open pilot to tailor the program to these communities, staff training, and ongoing data collection. Youth can participate with or without caregiver involvement; staff hope about half of caregivers will participate. Outcomes being looked at include whether youths attend their first recommended behavioral health appointment, how acceptable the screening and referral process is, how involved caregivers are, and changes in youth suicide risk at program start. The study compares these results to past data from before BH-Works was used. If the project moves forward with funding, data will be shared in a de-identified form with a national data archive. Enrollment is by invitation and the study expects to run through 2026.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. youth must be seeking services at the participating LGBTQ organizations.
• • 2. youth must endorse current suicidal ideation on the BHS.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. youth lack enough English-language proficiency to complete the BH-Works program
• • 2. youth are not capable of understanding the requirements for study participation