Safety Plan

SHORT VERSION

The safety plan is triggered by the following contingencies:

- You administer a questionnaire about depression, suicide, and/or anxiety
- A participant expresses distress during/after a study session
- A participant experiences a side effect from ingesting a drug

If you are administering an electronic questionnaire about sensitive topics:

When using an electronic platform where participants’ responses will not be monitored/reviewed in real time (e.g. running subs on mTurk), the following information/steps are required:
- The 1st and last assessment (if multiple assessments) must include this statement: “These assessments will not be reviewed immediately. Everyone participating in this research study will receive a list of contacts if they want to speak to someone about any health concerns or abuse.”
- A resource/referral list will be given to all participants after participant completion of the assessments (see resources list at end of page)
At present, we only have approval to have in-lab subjects responding to sensitive topic questionnaires for the Tolcapone/Pharmacological Study, for which we will contact the physician on-call for any adverse events as soon as they occur, document it, and stop the session.

Safety Plan Docs

Inform participants that they can withdraw from the study:
- At any time
- Without explaining why
- Without consequence to their compensation
If any study session involves administering a depression questionnaire:
- Provide the participant with the mental health resources list after administering a depression questionnaire
- If the participant is a minor, provide their parent with a copy of the mental health resources list also
If a participant feels upset by the study:
- For all participants:
  - Immediately stop the session
  - Immediately debrief, including about any deceptions employed in the study
  - Provide with a copy of the mental health resources list
  - Explain that they can discuss any issue with the PI or the lead researcher on the project, depending on who is more readily available and who the participant would like to talk to
- If a participant is a minor:
  - Ask the participant whether they would like their parent to join the study debrief
  - Alert the parent that the participant is feeling upset by the study
  - If the participant wants their parent to join the study debrief, ask the parent to join the debrief and give them an opportunity to discuss any issue with the PI or the lead researcher
  - Provide the parent with a copy of the mental health resources list

Brown University:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

401-863-3476

Student and Family Crisis Support

401-863-3145

Sexual Assault Response Line

401-863-6000

Support for Victims and Survivors of Sensitive Crimes

401-863-2542

Providence:

The Samaritans of Rhode Island

(401) 272-4044 or (800) 365-4044

National:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

(800) 273-TALK: (800) 273-8255; TTY: 1-800-799-4889

SAMHSA's National Helpline

1-800-662-HELP (4357); TTY: 1-800-487-4889

Mental Health Resources (.docx)

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