Abstract
BackgroundSelf-help smartphone apps offer a new opportunity to address youth suicide prevention by improving access to support and by providing potentially high fidelity and cost-effective treatment. However, there have been very few smartphone apps providing evidence-based support for suicide prevention in this population. To address this gap, we developed the LifeBuoy app, a self-help smartphone app informed by dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to help young people manage suicidal thoughts in their daily life.ObjectiveThis study describes the protocol for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of the LifeBuoy app for reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors, depression, anxiety, and psychological distress, and improving general mental well-being in young adults aged 18 to 25 years.MethodsThis is a randomized controlled trial recruiting 378 young adults aged between 18 and 25 years and comparing the LifeBuoy app with a matched attention control (a placebo app with the same display but no DBT components). The primary outcome is suicidal thoughts measured by the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS). The secondary outcomes are suicidal behavior, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and general mental well-being. The changes in the levels of insomnia, rumination, suicide cognitions, distress tolerance, loneliness, and help seeking before and after using the app are evaluated in this study. The study also addresses risk factors and responses to the intervention. A series of items assessing COVID-19 experiences is included in the trial to capture the potential impact of the pandemic on this study. Assessments will occur on the following three occasions: baseline, postintervention, and follow-up at 3 months postintervention. A qualitative interview about user experience with the LifeBuoy app will take place within 4 weeks of the final assessment. Using linear mixed models, the primary analysis will compare the changes in suicidal thoughts in the intervention condition relative to the control condition. To minimize risks, participants will receive a call from the team clinical psychologist by clicking a help button in the app or responding to an automated email sent by the system when they are assessed with elevated suicide risks at the baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up surveys.ResultsThe trial recruitment started in May 2020. Data collection is currently ongoing.ConclusionsThis is the first trial examining the efficacy of a DBT-informed smartphone app delivered to community-living young adults reporting suicidal thoughts. This trial will extend knowledge about the efficacy and acceptability of app-based support for suicidal thoughts in young people.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619001671156; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=378366.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/23655
Highlights
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are a global public health concern for adolescents and young adults owing to their life-threatening nature and high prevalence [1]
Data collection is currently ongoing. This is the first trial examining the efficacy of a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)-informed smartphone app delivered to community-living young adults reporting suicidal thoughts
DBT was initially developed for persons diagnosed with borderline personality disorder [16], and there is increasing evidence to suggest that DBT is effective in reducing suicidal thoughts, nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior, and suicide attempts in both adults [17] and adolescents [18,19]
Summary
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are a global public health concern for adolescents and young adults owing to their life-threatening nature and high prevalence [1]. One possible approach to prevent youth suicide is to provide accessible and engaging interventions that can effectively reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in this age group. DBT was initially developed for persons diagnosed with borderline personality disorder [16], and there is increasing evidence to suggest that DBT is effective in reducing suicidal thoughts, nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior, and suicide attempts in both adults [17] and adolescents [18,19]. There have been very few smartphone apps providing evidence-based support for suicide prevention in this population To address this gap, we developed the LifeBuoy app, a self-help smartphone app informed by dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to help young people manage suicidal thoughts in their daily life
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
