Safety Planning App for Suicidal Thoughts in Youth

Overseen By Laura Richardson, MD, MPH

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Washington

Disqualifiers: Non-English speaking, No phone access, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

100 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on using an app alongside usual care, so you may not need to change your current medication routine.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Integrated Suicide Supports for Youth?

Research suggests that smartphone apps for safety planning and self-monitoring, like those used in the Integrated Suicide Supports for Youth, are considered usable and acceptable by patients and clinicians. These apps have shown promise in helping manage suicidal thoughts and behaviors, although further exploration is needed to fully integrate them into routine care. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Safety Planning App for Suicidal Thoughts in Youth safe for use?

Research on similar safety planning apps shows they are generally safe and well-received by users. Studies found high satisfaction and usability ratings, suggesting these apps are safe to use in managing suicidal thoughts. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

How is the Safety Planning App for Suicidal Thoughts in Youth different from other treatments for suicidal thoughts?

The Safety Planning App is unique because it provides a mobile, easily accessible way for young people to manage suicidal thoughts by creating a personalized safety plan. Unlike traditional paper-based plans, this app can be accessed anytime and anywhere, offering immediate support during emotional crises. ^{5 7 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate an app to help keep teens and young adults with suicidal thoughts safe. The app includes a safety plan created by adolescents and healthcare providers in the clinic, and videos to encourage supportive communication and skills for teens and young adults to stay safe. The main question it aims to answer is whether the use of an app can increase youth suicide-related coping for youth with suicidal ideation, parent suicide prevention self-efficacy, and healthcare provider self-efficacy in suicide management. Researchers will compare usual care to usual care with the app. Participants, including adolescents, their caregivers and healthcare providers, will use the ISSP app (if assigned to that group) and complete three online surveys.

Research Team

Laura Richardson, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

University of Washington

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for teens and young adults experiencing suicidal thoughts. Participants will include the adolescents themselves, their caregivers, and healthcare providers. To join, they must be willing to use an app designed to help manage suicidality and complete three online surveys.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 13 and 21 years old.

Ask Suicide Questions (ASQ) screen score of 1-4 with no current plan or intent (Item 5 negative and as assessed by their clinical providers)

Exclusion Criteria

Already has a suicide safety plan that is being overseen by a mental health specialist

Previously recruited to other affiliated Suicide Care Research Center study

No phone access

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Control Period

Participants receive usual care without the app during the control period

1 month

Baseline assessment

Intervention Period

Participants use the Jaspr app in addition to usual care

1 month

1-month and 2-month follow-up assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention

2 months

2-month follow-up assessment

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Integrated Suicide Supports for Youth

Trial Overview The study tests whether a specially designed app that includes safety planning and supportive communication videos can improve coping skills in youth with suicidal ideation. It compares usual care alone versus usual care plus the app.

Participant Groups

Group I: Integrated skills and safety planning app Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Use of Jaspr app in clinic + at home

Group II: Usual Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Washington

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,858

Recruited

2,023,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Findings from Research

The LifeBuoy app, designed based on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), is being tested in a randomized controlled trial with 378 young adults aged 18 to 25 to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing suicidal thoughts and improving mental well-being.

This study is significant as it is the first to assess a DBT-informed smartphone app for suicide prevention in young adults, incorporating safety measures like clinical psychologist support for participants at risk.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Mobile Health Intervention (LifeBuoy App) to Help Young People Manage Suicidal Thoughts: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Randomized Controlled Trial. Han, J., McGillivray, L., Wong, QJ., et al.[2020]

The study involving 20 adolescents discharged from a mental health ward showed that the smartphone apps BeyondNow and BlueIce were feasible and acceptable, with most participants accessing them at least once during the six-week follow-up.

While many participants found the apps easy to use, a significant portion (47%) felt they would not ensure safety during a crisis; however, improvements in suicide resilience were noted, indicating potential benefits in managing self-harm and suicidal behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The feasibility of using smartphone apps to manage self-harm and suicidal acts in adolescents admitted to an inpatient mental health ward. Muscara, F., Ng, O., Crossley, L., et al.[2022]

The study evaluated the feasibility of two mental health apps, BackUp and mEMA, for treating depressed outpatients with suicidal ideation, involving 17 participants over a 3-month period.

Both apps were found to be usable and acceptable, scoring above the thresholds for usability and satisfaction, but the study did not meet the criteria for sufficient uptake, indicating that further exploration is needed for integrating these apps into routine mental healthcare.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The feasibility of using smartphone apps as treatment components for depressed suicidal outpatients. Nuij, C., van Ballegooijen, W., de Beurs, D., et al.[2023]

The research aims to implement the Hope app in the psychiatric emergency department at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to enhance suicide safety planning, involving ED clinicians and service users in the process to ensure effective integration into clinical workflows.

By using a co-design approach, the study will identify barriers and facilitators to implementation, ultimately developing strategies that support clinicians in adopting the app, which is crucial for improving suicide prevention efforts in emergency settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Designing Implementation Strategies for a Digital Suicide Safety Planning Intervention in a Psychiatric Emergency Department: Protocol for a Multimethod Research Project. Shin, HD., Zaheer, J., Torous, J., et al.[2023]

Qualitative interviews with clinicians, parents, and adolescents highlighted the importance of transition of care, specific treatment targets, and safety planning in preventing suicide reattempts among youth.

Participants unanimously supported the development of a smartphone application to aid in creating safety plans and improving treatment engagement for adolescents at risk of suicide.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing a Brief Suicide Prevention Intervention and Mobile Phone Application: a Qualitative Report. Kennard, BD., Biernesser, C., Wolfe, KL., et al.[2022]

The pilot phase of the SmartCrisis 2.0 trial demonstrated that a smartphone-based safety plan for patients with recent suicidal behavior is feasible and well-accepted, with a participation rate of 77% and high satisfaction ratings (overall satisfaction score of 9.6 out of 10).

Patients found the safety plan useful (7.4/10) and easy to use (8.9/10), with common coping strategies including walking and exercise, indicating that the app could be a valuable tool in clinical practice for supporting mental health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smartphone-based safety plan for suicidal crisis: The SmartCrisis 2.0 pilot study. Porras-Segovia, A., De Granda-Beltrán, AM., Gallardo, C., et al.[2023]

The SafePlan mobile app is being evaluated for its feasibility and acceptability among young people (ages 16-35) experiencing suicidal thoughts, with 80 participants set to be randomized to either the app plus usual treatment or a paper-based safety plan plus usual treatment.

The study aims to assess not only the app's usability but also its potential impact on reducing suicidal ideation over an 8-week period, with follow-up assessments at 6 months, which could inform future research and policy on integrating digital safety planning tools in mental health services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using a Safety Planning Mobile App to Address Suicidality in Young People Attending Community Mental Health Services in Ireland: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Melia, R., Francis, K., Duggan, J., et al.[2023]

MYPLAN is a mobile application developed to help individuals at risk of suicide create personalized safety plans, making it more accessible than traditional paper versions.

Since its launch in 2013, MYPLAN has been positively received, with nearly 8,000 downloads in Denmark and Norway, indicating its potential utility in supporting at-risk individuals, especially among younger populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MYPLAN - A Mobile Phone Application for Supporting People at Risk of Suicide. Skovgaard Larsen, JL., Frandsen, H., Erlangsen, A.[2022]

A self-administered, Web-based safety planning application was developed and tested with 30 suicidal patients, showing strong usability ratings and enabling 90% of participants to complete at least 5 out of 6 safety planning steps.

Participants reported a significant decrease in suicidal ideation intensity after using the application, with pre-application scores averaging 5.11 and post-application scores averaging 4.46, indicating the potential effectiveness of this tool in enhancing coping abilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computer Administered Safety Planning for Individuals at Risk for Suicide: Development and Usability Testing. Boudreaux, ED., Brown, GK., Stanley, B., et al.[2023]

The pilot study involving 66 adolescents showed that the ASAP intervention, which includes a smartphone app for emotion regulation, did not significantly reduce suicide attempts post-discharge, but indicated a trend towards fewer attempts (16% vs. 31%).

Participants with a history of previous suicide attempts may benefit more from the ASAP intervention, suggesting that this program could be tailored for those at higher risk, and overall, the intervention and app were well-received by users.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

As Safe as Possible (ASAP): A Brief App-Supported Inpatient Intervention to Prevent Postdischarge Suicidal Behavior in Hospitalized, Suicidal Adolescents. Kennard, BD., Goldstein, T., Foxwell, AA., et al.[2023]

References

1. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Mobile Health Intervention (LifeBuoy App) to Help Young People Manage Suicidal Thoughts: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The feasibility of using smartphone apps to manage self-harm and suicidal acts in adolescents admitted to an inpatient mental health ward. [2022]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The feasibility of using smartphone apps as treatment components for depressed suicidal outpatients. [2023]

4. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Designing Implementation Strategies for a Digital Suicide Safety Planning Intervention in a Psychiatric Emergency Department: Protocol for a Multimethod Research Project. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing a Brief Suicide Prevention Intervention and Mobile Phone Application: a Qualitative Report. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smartphone-based safety plan for suicidal crisis: The SmartCrisis 2.0 pilot study. [2023]

7. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using a Safety Planning Mobile App to Address Suicidality in Young People Attending Community Mental Health Services in Ireland: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]

8. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MYPLAN - A Mobile Phone Application for Supporting People at Risk of Suicide. [2022]

9. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computer Administered Safety Planning for Individuals at Risk for Suicide: Development and Usability Testing. [2023]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

As Safe as Possible (ASAP): A Brief App-Supported Inpatient Intervention to Prevent Postdischarge Suicidal Behavior in Hospitalized, Suicidal Adolescents. [2023]