Feasibility and Acceptability of a Brief Intervention for Youth Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Pediatric Primary Care Providers

Authors

Caitlin M Pinciotti
Erica Buckland
Taryn L Mayes
John L Cooley
Sean M Mitchell
Lucas Zullo
Jennifer L Hughes
Puja G Patel
Colleen Neal
Melissa DeFilippis
Taiwo T Babatope
Carmen Cruz
Madhukar H Trivedi
Eric A Storch
Wayne K Goodman
Laurel L Williams
Joan R Asarnow

Language

English

Publication Date

6-28-2025

Journal

Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

DOI

10.1080/23794925.2025.2522068

PMID

40852049

PMCID

PMC12369598

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

8-22-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth, and rates continue to increase across the United States. Pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) are uniquely positioned to identify acute periods of increased suicidal ideation and provide timely intervention.

Objective: The present study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of training and implementation of a primary care-adapted version of Safe Alternatives for Teens and Youth-Acute (SAFETY-A), a brief, strengths-based, cognitive-behaviorally oriented, family intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth, among pediatric PCPs.

Method: This multisite pilot study involved collaboration between eight Texas-based academic institutions who assisted with the recruitment and training of 68 PCPs. PCPs attended five SAFETY-A training sessions and completed self-report surveys for 6 months post-training.

Results: Prior to SAFETY-A training, PCPs indicated a significant training gap, with 83% indicating that they had not received sufficient prior training in suicide risk assessment and risk reduction/intervention. PCPs found SAFETY-A training acceptable, reporting significant improvements in knowledge, skills, and confidence. PCPs also found SAFETY-A implementation feasible, using the intervention a total of 288 times over the course of 6 months (M uses per PCP = 6.9). However, PCPs found the SAFETY-A training schedule less feasible, with many PCPs unable to attend all five training sessions.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that a tiered training structure allowing for more flexibility in training commitment might be more feasible for busy PCPs seeking training in SAFETY-A. Ongoing efforts to feasibly scale-up SAFETY-A training efforts across Texas incorporate these findings with the goal of making SAFETY-A training available to all PCPs across the state.

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Pinciotti, Caitlin M; Buckland, Erica; Mayes, Taryn L; et al., "Feasibility and Acceptability of a Brief Intervention for Youth Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Pediatric Primary Care Providers" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Students Publications. 6066.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/6066