Using a Self-Management App to Help Young Australians with Suicidal Thoughts
Author Information
Author(s): Michelle Torok, Lauren McGillivray, Daniel Z.Q. Gan, Jin Han, Sarah Hetrick, Quincy J.J. Wong
Primary Institution: University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
Hypothesis
Does the LifeBuoy app reduce suicidal ideation in young Australians compared to a sham app?
Conclusion
The LifeBuoy app effectively reduced suicidal ideation severity in young people, but adding an engagement strategy did not enhance its effectiveness.
Supporting Evidence
- Significant reductions in suicidal ideation scores were observed at 60 and 120 days.
- 6% of participants reported serious adverse events during the trial.
- The app was associated with a lower risk of being categorized as high risk for suicide.
Takeaway
A special app helped young people feel less sad and think about suicide less, but extra reminders didn't make it work better.
Methodology
This was a double-blind, three-arm parallel randomised controlled trial conducted online in Australia.
Potential Biases
Self-selection bias due to online recruitment may affect the representativeness of the sample.
Limitations
High attrition rates and overrepresentation of females and LGBQ+ individuals may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Mean age 19.9 years; 70% female; 57.8% identified as LGBQ+.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
[−7.76, −3.62]
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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