Permission to Take Part in a Human Research Study
Title of research study: Characterizing Suicidal Imagery to Improve the Understanding and
Assessment of Suicide Risk
Investigator: Sarah L. Brown, Ph.D., Florida State University
Key Information: The following is a short summary of this study to help you decide whether or not
to be a part of this study. More detailed information is listed later on in this form.
Why am I being invited to take part in a research study?
We invite you to take part in a research study because you have experienced recent suicidal thoughts
and/or behaviors.
What should I know about a research study?
● The details and purpose of this research study will be explained to you.
● Whether or not you take part is up to you.
● You can choose not to take part.
● You can agree to take part and later change your mind.
● Your decision will not be held against you.
● You can ask all the questions you want before you decide.
Why is this research being done?
This research is being done to explore how experiences of mental images of suicide may influence
suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Our goal is to improve our understanding of suicide imagery so we
can better predict and treat suicide-related conditions and behaviors.
How long will the research last and what will I need to do?
We expect that you will be in this research study for 90-120 minutes.
If you agree to participate in this research, your participation will entail the completion of one, multi-
part survey online using the platform REDCap. This survey can be taken anywhere, at the time of your
choosing, on any compatible digital device.
More detailed information about the study procedures can be found under “What happens if I say yes,
I want to be in this research?”
Is there any way being in this study could be bad for me?
Responding to questions related to your personal experiences with suicidal thoughts and behaviors
may cause emotional distress or discomfort.
More detailed information about the risks of this study can be found under “Is there any way being in
this study could be bad for me? (Detailed Risks)”
Will being in this study help me in any way?
There are no direct benefits to you from your taking part in this research. This is not a treatment study
and no treatment will be offered to you. We will provide a list of national and local mental health
resources should you benefit from these now or in the future. We cannot promise any benefits to others
from your taking part in this research. However, the knowledge received through this research may be
of value to society in preventing suicide and treating related mental disorders.
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Permission to Take Part in a Human Research Study
What happens if I do not want to be in this research?
Participation in research is completely voluntary. You can decide to participate or not to participate.
Earning course or other academic credit by taking part in this study is an alternative to the requirement
that you otherwise complete a course, paper or other credit-earning activity.
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Permission to Take Part in a Human Research Study
Detailed Information: The following is more detailed information about this study in addition
to the information listed above.
Who can I talk to?
If you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or have experienced a research-related injury or think
you have been negatively impacted by participating in this research study, contact the research team at:
ASPIRE Lab
aspirelab@psy.fsu.edu
Principal Investigator:
Sarah L. Brown, Ph.D.
850-644-6686
sbrown@psy.fsu.edu
This research has been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (“IRB”). You may
talk to them at 850-644-7900 or humansubjects@fsu.edu if:
● Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team.
● You cannot reach the research team.
● You want to talk to someone besides the research team.
● You have questions about your rights as a research subject.
● You want to get information or provide input about this research.
How many people will be studied?
We expect 250 undergraduate students at Florida State University will participate in this research
study, in addition to 250 community individuals recruited nationwide for a total of 500 people.
What happens if I say “yes” to being in this research?
You will be asked to complete a survey using the online software REDCap. The survey is expected to
take 90-120 minutes to complete, and it can be completed in any location with internet access and on
any compatible device. In the survey, you will be prompted to respond to questions about your history
of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, your attitudes toward suicide and related concepts, your
experiences of mental imagery, your thoughts and feelings, your history or experiences of mental
illness more broadly, and your demographic information. Your participation in this study will stop
upon completion of the survey or upon your withdrawal.
If you start but do not complete the REDCap survey, we may email you reminders about completing
the survey.
What happens if I say “yes,” but I change my mind later?
You can leave the research at any time, and it will not be held against you. You have the right to
choose not to participate in any study activity or completely withdraw from continued participation at
any point in this study without penalty to which you are otherwise entitled. If you no longer want to
participate, please contact the study team at the email address above (aspirelab@psy.fsu.edu).
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Permission to Take Part in a Human Research Study
If you withdraw from the study, the data collected to the point of withdrawal may be used.
Is there any way being in this study could be bad for me? (Detailed Risks)
We anticipate that responding to questions related to your personal experiences, including suicidal
thoughts and behaviors, may cause emotional discomfort and/or distress. We will provide a list of
national and local mental health resources should you benefit from these now or in the future.
What happens to the information collected for the research?
Efforts will be made to limit the use and disclosure of your personal information. However, we cannot
promise complete secrecy. Organizations that may inspect and copy your information include the IRB
and other representatives of this organization.
This study is collecting data from you. We may share your data with other researchers so that future
studies may be done. Those studies may be done by researchers here or at other places. Those studies
may be about health or other conditions like those in this study, or different conditions. Before we
share data, your name and other information that might identify you will be removed. Also, before we
share your data, other researchers must promise that any shared data will only be used for genuine
research purposes. These researchers must also agree not to try to identify you.
If you later change your mind and no longer wish to have us share your data, contact the investigator.
We will do our best to honor your request and to retrieve any data that have been shared with other
researchers. However, there may be times we cannot. For example, if we do not have a way to identify
your data we will not be able to retrieve the shared data. In addition, if the shared data have already
been used for new research, the information from that research may still be used.
We will do our best to protect your data when the data are shared. However, even if we remove any
information that may identify you, such as your name, there is a possibility that someone could or
might try to identify you. There is also the possibility that unauthorized people might try to access your
data. In either case, we cannot reduce the risk to zero. Also, you will not receive any direct benefit
from sharing your data. However, sharing your data may be used in future research that could help
others.
If identifiers are removed from your identifiable private information that are collected during this
research, that information could be used for future research studies or distributed to another
investigator for future research studies without your additional informed consent.
We may publish the results of this research. However, we will keep your name and other identifying
information confidential to the extent allowed by law.
What else do I need to know?
If you agree to take part in this research study and complete the surveys, you will be provided with 2
SONA course credits for your time and effort.
Earning course credit by taking part in this study is an alternative to the requirement that you otherwise
complete a course, paper or other credit-earning activity.
No real person will be monitoring your responses in real-time. If you are in crisis, you should call 9-8-
8 to reach the national suicide prevention lifeline, 9-1-1, or go to your nearest emergency room. If you
are in the Tallahassee area, you can also call the Apalachee Mobile Response Team (800) 342-0774.
You will also receive a study resource list with national and local mental health resources, as well as
information on creating a coping card or safety plan.
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Permission to Take Part in a Human Research Study
If you are feeling suicidal and need help, we encourage you to use the local and national mental health
resources we will provide you. You can also contact your therapist if you are currently receiving
mental health treatment. If you are seeking services, you can contact FSU’s Psychology Clinic (850)
644-3006.
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Permission to Take Part in a Human Research Study
Your signature documents your permission to take part in this research.
Signature of subject Date
Printed name of subject
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