A Randomized Controlled Trial of A Smartphone App to Manage Suicidal Thoughts in Young People
Tracks
Conference Centre Room 2
| Monday, March 28, 2022 |
| 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM |
Overview
Dr Lauren Mcgillivray and Ms Taylor Bloomfield, Black Dog Institute, University Of New South Wales
Speaker
Ms Taylor Bloomfield
Lived Experience Youth Panel Member
Black Dog Institute, University Of New South Wales
A Randomized Controlled Trial of A Smartphone App to Manage Suicidal Thoughts in Young People
Abstract
Please see Dr Lauren Mcgillivray
Biography
Ms Taylor Bloomfield partnered with the Black Dog Institute in 2019 as a member of the Lived Experience (LE) Youth Advisory Group that was formed during the LifeBuoy study to co-design modifications to the app. She has also contributed to the co-design of digital engagement strategies to increase user engagement of LifeBuoy in the upcoming trial (2022). Taylor has a LE of suicidal ideation and intends to advocate for LE involvement in future mental health research. Taylor is currently completing her third year of psychological science and wishes to use her education and LE to help others as a psychologist.
Dr Lauren Mcgillivray
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Black Dog Institute, University Of New South Wales
A Randomized Controlled Trial of A Smartphone App to Manage Suicidal Thoughts in Young People
Abstract
Objective: Smartphone interventions for suicidal thoughts have the potential to increase treatment access and reduce obstacles in help-seeking by providing accessible, anonymous, and timely support, which may reduce suicide risk. However, there are currently no apps available that attempt to reduce suicidal ideation. We developed a smartphone-based intervention -LifeBuoy- and investigated its efficacy compared to a control app in reducing the severity of suicidal thoughts in young adults. We also engaged young people with lived experience (LE) to co-design modifications to LifeBuoy in preparation for a larger 3-arm trial beginning in 2022.
Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial design, a community-based sample of young adults aged 18 to 25 years with current suicidal ideation (N=455) were recruited and allocated to receive one of two apps: LifeBuoy or an attention-matched control app. Suicidal ideation (primary outcome) was assessed at baseline, 6-week post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Mixed-effects modelling was used to examine baseline to post-intervention and baseline to 3-month follow-up changes in suicidal ideation for both conditions. We also collected data (n=90 surveys and n=16 interviews) from trial participants and partnered with a youth LE advisory panel (n=3) to iteratively refine the LifeBuoy app.
Results: LifeBuoy demonstrated efficacy in significantly reducing suicidal ideation in young people at post-intervention and after 3-months, relative to the control group. An attending co-author – one of our LE youth advisors – will present a summary of the feedback used to co-design modifications to LifeBuoy.
Conclusion: The present study is the first to show that suicidal ideation can be reduced among young people via a smartphone-based intervention, building evidence to address critical knowledge gaps relating to youth suicide prevention. Co-presenting these findings with a LE young person will model advocacy for a higher level of involvement with consumers, which is increasingly required in mental health research.
Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial design, a community-based sample of young adults aged 18 to 25 years with current suicidal ideation (N=455) were recruited and allocated to receive one of two apps: LifeBuoy or an attention-matched control app. Suicidal ideation (primary outcome) was assessed at baseline, 6-week post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Mixed-effects modelling was used to examine baseline to post-intervention and baseline to 3-month follow-up changes in suicidal ideation for both conditions. We also collected data (n=90 surveys and n=16 interviews) from trial participants and partnered with a youth LE advisory panel (n=3) to iteratively refine the LifeBuoy app.
Results: LifeBuoy demonstrated efficacy in significantly reducing suicidal ideation in young people at post-intervention and after 3-months, relative to the control group. An attending co-author – one of our LE youth advisors – will present a summary of the feedback used to co-design modifications to LifeBuoy.
Conclusion: The present study is the first to show that suicidal ideation can be reduced among young people via a smartphone-based intervention, building evidence to address critical knowledge gaps relating to youth suicide prevention. Co-presenting these findings with a LE young person will model advocacy for a higher level of involvement with consumers, which is increasingly required in mental health research.
Biography
Dr McGillivray is a postdoctoral research fellow and registered clinical psychologist. In 2018, after working in private and primary mental health care as a clinical psychologist, she joined Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, to work on LifeSpan – Australia’s largest suicide prevention research trial. She is currently evaluating a mental health promotion and suicide prevention program for secondary school students (NSW & ACT). She has also helped to design, develop, and trial manage BDI’s flagship youth-suicide prevention digital product – LifeBuoy – and will assess the efficacy of this intervention for reducing suicidal ideation in young people.
