Research Project

National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health:
2002-2005

• Dr. Elaine A. Thompson (PI)
• Dr. Leona L. Eggert
• Dr. Jerald R. Herting
• Dr. Brooke P. Randell

Suicide is a major public health problem. This innovative three-year study is designed to follow young adults who were identified as potential school dropouts and participated in an intervention for suicide-risk prevention during adolescence. The research will test the long-term efficacy of two suicide risk interventions for reducing suicidal behaviors and related risk factors (emotional distress, drug involvement), and enhancing mediating influences including personal resources (coping, personal control) and social resources (outside support). The study will also explore the effects of gender and ethnicity on intervention outcomes and patterns of change in suicide risk and protective factors. Study participants include 600 young adults, 460 of whom were identified as potential school dropouts. They will be interviewed twice annually over three years. The results of this study will substantially increase our knowledge of the long-term efficacy of school-based suicide prevention programs and provide a basis for additional prevention planning for both adolescents and young adults.