Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Awarded PCORI Funding to Advance Suicide Prevention Efforts in Schools

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital have been approved for $16 million in research funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to lead a study focused on reducing adolescent suicide through school-based prevention programs.

The study, beginning in fall 2026, is called the Building Resilience in Teens through Education (BRITE) trial. It will compare two evidence-based suicide prevention programs - the SOS Signs of Suicide program (SOS) and Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) - and a combined approach of SOS and YAM across 80 schools in Ohio, Idaho, Washington and North Carolina. Co-led by researchers at Nationwide Children's and St. Luke's Health System (Idaho) and including collaborators at the University of Washington and University of North Carolina, the five-year study will enroll students in grades 8-10, aiming to determine which intervention most effectively reduces suicidal behaviors.

"Teens often spend more time in and around school than anywhere else, making that environment so vital when it comes to suicide prevention efforts specifically focused on youth," said Jennifer Hughes, PhD, MPH, co-principal investigator of the study and clinical psychologist in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's. "By comparing these school-based interventions, we can find what is most effective and what may need adjustment to best serve the needs of this patient population."

SOS teaches students and staff about depression and how to recognize warning signs of suicide in themselves and others and to respond by using the ACT-Acknowledge, Care, Tell-approach. YAM is designed to engage students in learning and about exploring the topic of mental health through interactive sessions that build coping skills, awareness, and enhanced peer support.

"It's exciting to be able to see SOS and YAM implemented more broadly across multiple states, including Idaho, where the adolescent suicide rate is 3.5 times higher than the national average," said Anna Radin, DrPH, MPH, co-principal investigator of the study and applied research scientist at St. Luke's Health System. "BRITE will build on previous research St. Luke's has led, making another stride toward reducing teen suicide in our region and others."

Nationally, suicide is the second leading cause of death for children ages 10-19 years old. It affects people of all backgrounds, and early identification of risk factors can aid in prevention strategies for youth who are at risk. The BRITE trial will examine differences in behavior by grade level and rural versus urban settings, and is designed to provide high-quality evidence for schools, policymakers and funders.

"Suicide prevention is a shared responsibility that requires coordinated action across the entire community to ensure that all kids and teens feel supported and know where to turn when they are struggling," said John Ackerman, PhD, co-investigator of the study and Suicide Prevention Clinical Manager in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. "Important work like this gives families, caregivers, educators and youth the tools and language needed to navigate mental health challenges, including thoughts of suicide."

The funding award to Nationwide Children's has been approved pending completion of PCORI's business and programmatic review and issuance of a formal award contract.

About The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report's 2025-26 list of "Best Children's Hospitals," Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of America's largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs are part of what allows Nationwide Children's to advance its unique model of care. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children's faculty train the next generation of pediatricians, scientists and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities in the U.S., supporting basic, clinical, translational, behavioral and population health research. The AWRI is comprised of multidisciplinary Centers of Emphasis paired with advanced infrastructure supporting capabilities such as technology commercialization for discoveries; gene- and cell-based therapies; and genome sequencing and analysis. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org/Research.

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