By Brett Dumke

A recent pilot study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), shows a promising new intervention for depressed teens that have previously attempted suicide. Along with medication, this intervention uses a psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP).  CBT-SP was developed to prevent or reduce the risk of suicide reattempts.  The study found that the rate of recurrence of either suicidal thoughts or attempts were lower than previous comparable studies, which suggests that this type of intervention might be an effective new approach in helping to reduce suicide among this most susceptible group of teens.

For more information, go to the NIMH study. Also, check out our youth education section on our website for information and resources pertaining to depression and suicide prevention.