Suicide Prediction and Prevention for People at Risk for Opioid Use Disorder (NIH HEAL Initiative)

Funded by the NIH HEAL Initiative^®

People with opioid use disorder (OUD) are at increased risk of depression and other mental health conditions, and a significant proportion of opioid-related deaths are likely suicides. Nearly 50% of patients who die by suicide make a healthcare visit in the month prior, most often to primary care. Yet systematic screening of patients with OUD for suicide risk is rarely done. Clinical decision support tools within the electronic health record can improve healthcare prevention measures and important clinical outcomes. This primary care-based clinic-randomized trial will integrate a tool for suicide risk prediction with a clinical decision support tool for the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of opioid use disorder. By integrating these two tools, the study will identify patients with OUD who have increased risk for suicide, ultimately increasing engagement in both OUD treatment and outpatient mental health care.