St. Luke’s Health System, in collaboration with The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, is set to co-lead a significant study aimed at reducing adolescent suicide through school-based prevention programs. The study, supported by a $16 million funding award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), will focus on the alarming rate of teen suicides, particularly in Idaho, where the rate is 3.5 times higher than the national average.
The Building Resilience in Teens through Education (BRITE) Trial will compare the effectiveness of two evidence-based programs, SOS Signs of Suicide (SOS) and Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), as well as a combined approach (SOS+YAM) across 80 schools in Idaho, Ohio, Washington, and North Carolina. Anna Radin, DrPH, MPH, an applied research scientist at St. Luke’s Health System and co-principal investigator for the BRITE Trial, emphasized the importance of the study, stating, “Comparing two programs that we already know are very safe and effective means that youth in our communities will benefit right away, while we learn more about which one works best to reduce suicide risk in different groups.”
The five-year study, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, will enroll over 7,000 students in grades 8–10 to determine which intervention most effectively reduces suicidal behaviors. Twenty Idaho schools, including those in Boise, Caldwell, Elmore, and Twin Falls school districts, will participate. The trial aims to provide high-quality evidence for schools, policymakers, and funders, while also examining differences by grade level and rural versus urban settings…