This study will establish the effectiveness of Robinson's Adapted-Coping with Stress Course (A-CWS) and test hypotheses pertaining to the mechanism of change by which the A-CWS reduces suicide risk. Additionally, this study is expected to augment current theoretical models of adolescent suicidality. This effectiveness trial will inform procedures for scaling up efficacious, high quality, and culturally-grounded suicide prevention programs for low-resourced, urban African American youth; as such, this study is practice relevant and expected to inform best practices for the prevention of suicide among African American adolescents. The specific aims are:
1. To examine the effectiveness of the A-CWS intervention, as delivered by social workers who are indigenous to the school system, to reduce active suicidal ideation, within a sample of low-resourced, urban African American adolescents.
2. To understand the mechanism by which the A-CWS intervention reduces suicide risk for low-resourced, urban African American adolescents.
3. To establish the fidelity of an evidence-based, culturally-grounded coping with stress intervention (i.e., the A-CWS), developed for low-resourced, urban African American adolescents, delivered by social workers indigenous to the school system.
4. To understand the extent that thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and socio-ecological factors influence the development of active suicidal ideation.
