CALL FOR RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS! Do you want more information, support, and resources around suicidal thoughts?

QueerCare is a suicide prevention program being conducted at San Diego State University. The goal of QueerCare is to find out what helps queer young people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide with managing their thoughts of suicide. QueerCare combines learning about mental health, ways of coping with distress and suicidal thoughts, and possible stressors that are specific to queer people’s lives. This program aims to connect people with local health, mental health, and social resources. Our team of “mental health advocates” help with these goals during the study by acting as a teacher to learn ways of coping with distress and suicidal thoughts and may help make connections to LGBTQ+ mental health resources in Southern California. 

People who may be eligible are part of the broader queer community (e.g., identify as LGBTQ+), are between the ages or 15 to 29, have thoughts of suicide, and live in Southern California. 

People who are enrolled in the study, called participants, will complete four sessions over Zoom, during which they will answer interview questions and online surveys. These sessions are called assessments. Participants will also be randomly assigned to be in one of two groups. Participants in one group will meet with a mental health advocate once to create a safety plan for how to manage thoughts of suicide. Participants in the other group will meet with the mental health advocate to create a safety plan to manage thoughts of suicide and then continue to meet with the mental health advocate for a six-month period who may help connect them to local LGBTQ+ affirming mental health providers and social support. 

Participants will be compensated for their time in the study. Participants will receive Tango gift cards, which are electronic gift cards that can be used at over 80 different retailers and charities. These gift cards will be distributed after completion of each of the 4 assessments. Participants do not receive gift cards after completing sessions with the mental health advocate. 

All participants will also receive a list of local LGBTQ+ affirming mental health providers and local and national hotlines. 

Do you want to see if you are eligible for the study?

If you are interested, please scan the QR code, or reach out with any questions via email at qcare@sdsu.edu or over the phone at (858) 523-8712.