This study examined whether the Youth-Nominated Support Team Intervention for Suicidal Adolescents–Version II is associated with reduced mortality across 11 to 14 years.
In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial that included 448 adolescents hospitalized for suicide risk, there were 2 deaths among adolescents in the Youth-Nominated Support Team at 11- to 14-year follow-up compared with 13 in the group allocated to treatment as usual, a significant difference. In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial that included 448 adolescents hospitalized for suicide risk, there were 2 deaths among adolescents in the Youth-Nominated Support Team at 11- to 14-year follow-up compared with 13 in the group allocated to treatment as usual, a significant difference. National Death Index records were reviewed for all 448 YST study participants (319 [71.2%] identified as female; mean [SD] age, 15.6 [1.3] years; 375 [83.7%] of white race/ethnicity). There were 13 deaths in the TAU group and 2 deaths in the YST group (hazard ratio, 6.62; 95% CI, 1.49-29.35; P < .01). No patients were withdrawn from YST owing to adverse effects. The findings suggest that the YST intervention for suicidal adolescents is associated with reduced mortality. Because this was a secondary analysis, results warrant replication with examination of mechanisms. (Published abstract provided)