Suicide PreventionESPAIRNCT06551038
Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents With Risk Factors
A study testing Primary suicide prevention intervention in people with Suicide Prevention, run by Stephanie Baggio at 19 sites in Switzerland.
Trial summary
Suicide is one of the main causes of death among teenagers. Because it is preventable, primary prevention of suicide has become a public health priority, with encouraging results in promoting suicide awareness and reducing suicidal thoughts among adolescents. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 14 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Suicide Prevention
- What is being tested?
- Primary suicide prevention intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 240 participants
- Where
- 19 sitesSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 11 Mar 2025to 30 Sep 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 14 to 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Vulnerable adolescents defined as being: 1) detained in juvenile detention centers, 2) disconnected from school, 3) in treatment for psychiatric disorders, 4) belonging to a sexual or gender minority, 5) affected by chronic conditions, or 6) with relational/familial problems.
- Age 14 to 25 years old.
- Good knowledge of French.
- Accepting to sign the informed consent.
Who cannot join
- The medical/educational staff considers that the intervention will interfere with appropriate management of acute psychiatric disorder or may cause harm to self or other.
- Being enrolled in another suicide prevention intervention during the study period.
Trial locations and contacts
19 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
19 sites in 1 country
Switzerland19 sites, 19 recruiting
- Recruiting
Dialogai et Totem
Geneva, Canton of Geneva, 1201
Nadjeda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
CAP Formations, Cité des Métiers
Geneva, 1205
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
Unité de Liaison Ambulatoire et Hospitalière, Service de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, HUG
Geneva, 1205
Santiago Peregalli, +41223724800, santiago.peregalli@hug.ch
- Recruiting
Foyers de Gilly
Grand-Lancy, 1212
Patrick Heller, MD, +41223055218, patrick.heller@hug.ch
- Recruiting
Agnodice
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1003
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
Vogay
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1003
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
Centre Thérapeutique de Jour pour Adolescents
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1005
Sébastien Urben, Dr., +41213147492, Sebastien.Urben@chuv.ch
- Recruiting
Unité de Soins Psychiatriques Fermée pour Mineurs
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1008
Sébastien Urben, Dr., +41213147492, Sebastien.Urben@chuv.ch
- Recruiting
Foyer de Chailly
Lausanne, 1012
Patrick Heller, MD, +41223055218
- Recruiting
Ren'Fort
Lausanne, 1018
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
Foyer La Pommeraie
Lonay, 1027
Patrick Heller, MD, +41223055218, patrick.heller@hug.ch
- Recruiting
Service des Parcours Individualisé
Onex, 1213
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
Établissement de Détention pour mineurs et jeunes adultes Les Léchaires
Palézieux, Canton of Vaud, 1607
Patrick Heller, MD, +41223055218, patrick.heller@hug.ch
- Recruiting
Le Repuis
Petit Lancy, 1213
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
Programme ForMe (anciennement SEMO) et dispositif ProPULSE
Plan-les-Ouates, Canton of Geneva, 1228
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
Centre éducatif fermé de Pramont
Sierre, Valais, 3977
Patrick Heller, MD, +41223055218, patrick.heller@hug.ch
Stéphanie Baggio, PhD, +41316846774, stephanie.baggio@unibe.ch
- Recruiting
Astural, Parcours A2mains
Thônex, 1226
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
- Recruiting
Centre de Détention et d'Observation La Clairière
Vernier, Canton of Geneva, 1214
Patrick Heller, MD, +41223055218, patrick.heller@hug.ch
- Recruiting
Programme Intégration et Formation Professionnelle
Vernier, Canton of Geneva, 1214
Nadejda Lambert, +41223205567, nadejda@stopsuicide.ch
About this study
Suicide is one of the main causes of death among teenagers. Because it is preventable, primary prevention of suicide has become a public health priority, with encouraging results in promoting suicide awareness and reducing suicidal thoughts among adolescents. However, the lack of studies conducted among vulnerable populations (i.e., marginalised, disengaged and disadvantaged) is a major gap, even though these populations present an increased risk of suicidal behaviour.
The aim of this project is to test the effectiveness of a brief primary suicide prevention intervention for vulnerable adolescents, using a randomised controlled trial. Vulnerable adolescents include those 1) detained in juvenile detention centres, 2) at risk of dropping out of school, 3) undergoing treatment for psychiatric disorders, 4) belonging to a sexual or gender diversity, 5) affected by chronic conditions, or 6) with relational/familial problems. The main aim is to test the effectiveness of the intervention on a composite measure of suicide awareness, psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. The project will also explore other issues that present challenges for vulnerable populations: access to primary suicide prevention and non-response bias. The study will provide relevant results to address the current lack of high-quality evidence for primary suicide prevention in adolescents.
- Conditions
- Suicide Prevention
- Being tested
- Primary suicide prevention intervention, Art-based control intervention
- Keywords
- Suicide, Primary prevention, Vulnerable adolescents, Psychological distress
- Medical subject headings
- Suicide Prevention, Suicide
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Primary suicide prevention interventionBehavioural
Psychoeducation workshop
Art-based control interventionBehavioural
Slam poetry workshop
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Primary suicide prevention intervention | Experimental | The framework of the primary suicide prevention intervention is psychoeducation. The intervention lasts for 90 minutes and is conducted in groups of 5 to 15 (on average 10) participants. It provides general information on suicidal behaviors, information about facts and myths about suicide, identification of risk factors and warning signs of suicidal behaviors, and information on ways to seek for help and get support for themselves and others in the canton. The intervention includes a lecture, group discussions based on case examples, and a quiz on facts and myths about suicide. It is conducted by a trained staff member with the support of a psychologist trained in suicide prevention for children and adolescents. It follows a standardized format. Receives: Behavioral: Primary suicide prevention intervention |
| Art-based control intervention | Active comparator | The control intervention will be an art-based activity, a workshop on slam poetry. At the end of the study, participants will get a flyer containing information on suicide prevention with the participants of the control group. Therefore, they will have a low-threshold intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Art-based control intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Composite measure of suicide awareness
Nine-item perceived suicide awareness scale (PSAS-9), assessed on a 5-point scale, score ranging from 0 to 36, with a higher score indicating a higher suicide awareness
Measured: One-week post-baseline
Secondary outcomes (7)
Composite measure of suicide awareness
Nine-item perceived suicide awareness scale (PSAS-9), assessed on a 5-point scale, score ranging from 0 to 36, with a higher score indicating a higher suicide awareness
Measured: Three-month post-baseline
Knowledge on suicide
Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS), 12 binary (true/false) questions, score ranging from 0 to 12, with a higher score indicating higher knowledge on suicide
Measured: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline
Knowledge of local resources
Self-developed scale on local resources, 6 binary (true/false) questions, score ranging from 0 to 6, with a higher score indicating higher knowledge of local resources
Measured: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline
Suicidal thoughts
Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), 10 questions assessed on a 5-point scale, with a score ranging from 0 to 50. A higher score indicates a higher level of suicidal thoughts.
Measured: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline
Psychological distress
Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K-6), 6-item scale is assessed on a 5-point scale, with a score ranging from 0 to 24. A higher score indicates a higher level of psychological distress.
Measured: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline
Access to primary suicide prevention
Self-developed scale on primary suicide prevention training, 3 questions combined in a binary indicator (yes/no)
Measured: Baseline
Attrition
Percentage of participants who drop out, continuous variable (0-100), with a higher percentage indicating a higher level of attrition
Measured: Three-month post-baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Aug 2024
- Study start11 Mar 2025
- Primary completion30 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Suicide PreventionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 240 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Stephanie Baggio
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Stephanie Baggio, University of Lausanne
- Investigators
- Stéphanie Baggio, Prof., Principal investigator, Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06551038
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024-01208
- Acronym
- ESPAIR
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 8 Aug 2024
- Last updated
- 18 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data will be shared on https://www.swissubase.ch.
Publications
Baggio S, Bailey E, Edan A, Heller P, Kapp C, Lambert N, Michaud L, Mundt AP, Nsingi N, Perez S, Peregalli S, Piguet C, Piotrowski C, Prutyanova Y, Rumley M, Sapin M, Urben S, Iglesias K. Evaluating primary suicide prevention in adolescents with risk factors (ESPAIR): study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2025 Nov 24;26(1):537. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-09266-y.
PubMed 41286939
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluating Primary Suicide Prevention in Adolescents With Risk Factors
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06551038
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ESPAIR / 2024-01208
- Conditions
- Suicide Prevention
- Keywords
- Suicide, Primary prevention, Vulnerable adolescents, Psychological distress
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 240 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Stephanie BaggioUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Suicide is one of the main causes of death among teenagers. Because it is preventable, primary prevention of suicide has become a public health priority, with encouraging results in promoting suicide awareness and reducing suicidal thoughts among adolescents. However, the lack of studies conducted among vulnerable populations (i.e., marginalised, disengaged and disadvantaged) is a major gap, even though these populations present an increased risk of suicidal behaviour.
The aim of this project is to test the effectiveness of a brief primary suicide prevention intervention for vulnerable adolescents, using a randomised controlled trial. Vulnerable adolescents include those 1) detained in juvenile detention centres, 2) at risk of dropping out of school, 3) undergoing treatment for psychiatric disorders, 4) belonging to a sexual or gender diversity, 5) affected by chronic conditions, or 6) with relational/familial problems. The main aim is to test the effectiveness of the intervention on a composite measure of suicide awareness, psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. The project will also explore other issues that present challenges for vulnerable populations: access to primary suicide prevention and non-response bias. The study will provide relevant results to address the current lack of high-quality evidence for primary suicide prevention in adolescents.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Primary suicide prevention intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Primary suicide prevention interventionThe framework of the primary suicide prevention intervention is psychoeducation. The intervention lasts for 90 minutes and is conducted in groups of 5 to 15 (on average 10) participants. It provides general information on suicidal behaviors, information about facts and myths about suicide, identification of risk factors and warning signs of suicidal behaviors, and information on ways to seek for help and get support for themselves and others in the canton. The intervention includes a lecture, group discussions based on case examples, and a quiz on facts and myths about suicide. It is conducted by a trained staff member with the support of a psychologist trained in suicide prevention for children and adolescents. It follows a standardized format. |
| Art-based control intervention | Active comparator | Behavioral: Art-based control interventionThe control intervention will be an art-based activity, a workshop on slam poetry. At the end of the study, participants will get a flyer containing information on suicide prevention with the participants of the control group. Therefore, they will have a low-threshold intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 14 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Vulnerable adolescents defined as being: 1) detained in juvenile detention centers, 2) disconnected from school, 3) in treatment for psychiatric disorders, 4) belonging to a sexual or gender minority, 5) affected by chronic conditions, or 6) with relational/familial problems.
- Age 14 to 25 years old.
- Good knowledge of French.
- Accepting to sign the informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- The medical/educational staff considers that the intervention will interfere with appropriate management of acute psychiatric disorder or may cause harm to self or other.
- Being enrolled in another suicide prevention intervention during the study period.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Primary suicide prevention interventionPsychoeducation workshop | Behavioural | Primary suicide prevention intervention |
| Art-based control interventionSlam poetry workshop | Behavioural | Art-based control intervention |
Primary outcome
Composite measure of suicide awareness
Time frame: One-week post-baseline
Nine-item perceived suicide awareness scale (PSAS-9), assessed on a 5-point scale, score ranging from 0 to 36, with a higher score indicating a higher suicide awareness
7 secondary outcomes
Composite measure of suicide awareness
Time frame: Three-month post-baseline
Knowledge on suicide
Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline
Knowledge of local resources
Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline
Suicidal thoughts
Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline
Psychological distress
Time frame: One-week post-baseline; three-month post-baseline
Access to primary suicide prevention
Time frame: Baseline
Attrition
Time frame: Three-month post-baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Dec 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41286939Baggio S, Bailey E, Edan A, Heller P, Kapp C, Lambert N, Michaud L, Mundt AP, Nsingi N, Perez S, Peregalli S, Piguet C, Piotrowski C, Prutyanova Y, Rumley M, Sapin M, Urben S, Iglesias K. Evaluating primary suicide prevention in adolescents with risk factors (ESPAIR): study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2025 Nov 24;26(1):537. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-09266-y.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data will be shared on https://www.swissubase.ch.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Stéphanie Baggio, Prof. principal investigator
Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern
19 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Primary suicide prevention intervention in people with Suicide Prevention, run by Stephanie Baggio at 19 sites in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 19 sites in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Stéphanie Baggio, Prof. (+41316846774, stephanie.baggio@unibe.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Composite measure of suicide awareness (time frame: One-week post-baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06551038, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Dec 2025.