Browsing by Author "Kemp, Kathleen"

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    Feasibility and acceptability of a brief suicide intervention for youth involved with the family court
    (Wiley, 2021) Kemp, Kathleen; Pederson, Casey A.; Webb, Margaret; Williamson, Shannon; Elwy, A. Rani; Spirito, Anthony; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    As efforts to develop models for suicide prevention and intervention in the juvenile justice (JJ) system continue to grow, research to understand the feasibility and acceptability of implementing these models is critical. Examining organizational readiness for implementation, ensuring leadership and staff buy-in for delivering the intervention, and planning for sustainability of staff participation in implementation efforts is essential. The current study involved semi-structured formative evaluation interviews with key JJ stakeholders (n = 10) to determine perspectives on the acceptability (perceived need and fit of the intervention) and feasibility (organizational readiness for change) of a proposed brief safety planning intervention for youth with suicidal ideation delivered by nonclinical staff and integrated into the existing system. Qualitative data revealed stakeholders' perceived need for the intervention in the family court context and their agreement that the aims of the intervention were congruent with the goals of the family court. Some barriers to successful implementation were noted, which, addressed through selection of appropriate implementation strategies, can be overcome in a future test of the safety intervention.
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    Non-suicidal Self-Injury, Suicidal Behaviors, and Mental Health Symptoms among Sexual Minority Youth with Juvenile Justice System Involvement
    (Elsevier, 2023) Vieira, Alyssa; Sheerin, Kaitlin M.; Williamson-Butler, Shannon; Pederson, Casey A.; Thompson, Elizabeth C.; Soriano, Sheiry; Wolff, Jennifer C.; Spirito, Anthony; Kemp, Kathleen; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Sexual minority youth have long remained an understudied population within the juvenile justice system, despite emerging evidence suggesting that sexual minority youth are overrepresented. Recent literature indicates that system-involved sexual minority youth may have more behavioral health concerns than their heterosexual counterparts. Even so, more work is needed to elucidate the unique needs of sexual minority youth who become involved in the system, especially as it pertains to suicidal behaviors and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The present study provided a descriptive evaluation of the prevalence of sexual minority youth making early system contact and their mental health concerns. Of the 218 justice-involved youth from a Northeastern family court in the sample, over a quarter identified as a sexual minority (n = 58). Our findings indicated that these youth evidenced significantly higher scores on a mental health screener compared to their heterosexual counterparts, evidencing greater symptomology on scales indicative of depression/anxiety, thought disturbance, etc. Further, sexual minority youth reported higher rates of lifetime, past year, and past month NSSI as well as lifetime and past year suicide attempts. These findings highlight the need to support the well-being of sexual minority youth in the juvenile justice system by screening for and addressing their mental health needs in this unique setting.