PRIM&R Webinar: Suicidal Individuals in Research

Including suicidal or potentially suicidal individuals in clinical research is a critical way to gain important data that can advance suicide prevention efforts. Researchers and IRBs may tend to exclude suicidal individuals from research studies to avoid potential risks; however, in order for the research to be scientifically and clinically valuable, it is important that suicidal individuals are not excluded from research unnecessarily. Implementing proper safety measures in the protocol can help mitigate potential risks and encourage safe and ethical participation of suicidal and potentially suicidal individuals in research. This webinar will summarize the recently released National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) guidance for conducting research with subjects at elevated risk of suicide*, focusing on the areas most relevant for IRBs, including considerations for informed consent, study design, safety monitoring and reporting, end of study participation, and the use of novel technologies in research. The webinar will also discuss practical applications to address these considerations, including the role of clinical care in mitigating risk. Potential negative consequences of excluding suicidal individuals in research will also be considered. The webinar will conclude with interactive case studies.