A visual safety plan for autistic teens with suicidal thoughts or self-harm
Tests a visual safety plan with standard care in autistic teens at risk.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Adapted Visual Safety Plan for Autistic Youth (VSP-AY) to Address Self-harm, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicide Behaviors
Key facts
- Where
- Petah Tikva, IsraelSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 13 and 18 years old?
Source: NCT07333014, who can take part
Where in Israel
- Geha Mental Health CenterPetah Tikva, IsraelNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- College of Management Academic Studies
- Trial code
- NCT07333014
- Record updated
- 12 January 2026
- Original description
This pilot randomized controlled trial will recruit 90 autistic adolescents aged 13-18 years with recent suicidal thoughts or behaviors from Geha Mental Health Center in Israel. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either (1) the intervention group receiving the Visual Safety Plan for Autistic Youth (VSP-AY) plus standard care, or (2) the control group receiving treatment as usual without VSP-AY. Mental health professionals delivering VSP-AY will complete a 6-hour training with ongoing supervision throughout the study. Outcomes will be assessed at three timepoints: baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), and one-month follow-up (T2). The study will evaluate feasibility through recruitment and completion rates, acceptability through satisfaction questionnaires and qualitative interviews, and preliminary effectiveness through standardized measures of suicidal ideation (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI-AT), and depression (Children's Depression Inventory).Read full original descriptionShow less
Adapted Visual Safety Plan for Autistic Youth (VSP-AY) to Address Self-harm, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicide Behaviors: : A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
This pilot randomized controlled trial will recruit 90 autistic adolescents aged 13-18 years with recent suicidal thoughts or behaviors from Geha Mental Health Center in Israel. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either (1) the intervention group receiving the Visual Safety Plan for Autistic Youth (VSP-AY) plus standard care, or (2) the control group receiving treatment as usual without VSP-AY. Mental health professionals delivering VSP-AY will complete a 6-hour training with ongoing supervision throughout the study. Outcomes will be assessed at three timepoints: baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), and one-month follow-up (T2). The study will evaluate feasibility through recruitment and completion rates, acceptability through satisfaction questionnaires and qualitative interviews, and preliminary effectiveness through standardized measures of suicidal ideation (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI-AT), and depression (Children's Depression Inventory).
Inclusion: Aged 13-18 years; Formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder; Experienced suicidal ideation or behavior within the past six months; Able to engage in the study intellectually, either verbally or in writing; Not at imminent risk of suicide requiring immediate hospitalization; Have adequate family support; Able to attend appointments at Geha Mental Health Center; Parent or legal guardian willing to provide informed consent; Adolescent willing to provide assent.
Exclusion: Immediate suicide risk requiring inpatient hospitalization; Active psychotic symptoms that prevent meaningful engagement; Active manic symptoms that prevent meaningful engagement; Insufficient Hebrew language proficiency to engage with study materials; Lack of family support, as documented by social services; Current participation in conflicting intervention studies.