Long‐Term Effects of the Family Check‐Up in Early Adolescence on Risk of Suicide in Early Adulthood

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the Family Check-Up, a school-based prevention program, as delivered in public secondary schools on suicide risk across adolescence. Students were randomly assigned to a family-centered intervention (N = 998) in sixth grade, and offered a multilevel intervention that included (a) a universal classroom-based intervention, (b) the Family Check-Up (selected; Dishion, Stormshak, & Kavanagh, 2011), and (c) family management treatment (indicated). Engagement with the FCU predicted significant reductions in suicide risk across adolescence and early adulthood.

Annual Research Review: Suicide among youth – epidemiology, (potential) etiology, and treatment

“…parental loss, parent-child acculturation gaps, military deployment) with the aim to prevent substance abuse, internalizing, and externalizing disorders have also been evaluated for their impact on suicidal thoughts and behaviors (e.g. Connell, McKillop, & Dishion, 2016;Gewirtz, DeGarmo, & Zamir, 2016;Sandler, Tein, Wolchik, & Ayers, 2016;Vidot et al, 2016). RCTs testing the long-term effects of the Family Check-Up and the Family Bereavement interventions evidenced reductions in a composite score of suicide ideation and behavior in youth at follow-up, up to 10 and 15 years after delivery of the intervention (Connell et al, 2016;Sandler et al, 2016).…”

“…Connell, McKillop, & Dishion, 2016;Gewirtz, DeGarmo, & Zamir, 2016;Sandler, Tein, Wolchik, & Ayers, 2016;Vidot et al, 2016). RCTs testing the long-term effects of the Family Check-Up and the Family Bereavement interventions evidenced reductions in a composite score of suicide ideation and behavior in youth at follow-up, up to 10 and 15 years after delivery of the intervention (Connell et al, 2016;Sandler et al, 2016). Important avenues remain for future study of the long-term effects of family-based prevention programs on youth suicidal thoughts and behaviors.…”

Master Clinician Review: Saving Holden Caulfield: Suicide Prevention in Children and Adolescents

“…In one follow-up study, 5 to 15 years after the intervention was delivered, those who received the FCU as middle-school students showed reduced suicidal ideation or attempts. 20 The Family Bereavement Program (FBP) was designed for families in which one parent had died. The FBP had parallel parent and child groups.…”

Prevention Programs to Augment Family and Child Resilience Can Have Lasting Effects on Suicidal Risk

“…The Family Check‐up (FCU; Connell, McKillop, & Dishion, , this issue) is a tiered intervention for parents that combines elements of universal and selective prevention. In this study, 998 6th–8th graders and their parents were screened for family risk and protective factors related to discipline and communication.…”