The effectiveness of a suicide prevention app for indigenous Australian youths: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-help app based on acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing suicidal thoughts among young Indigenous Australians.
Results Summary
The abstract does not provide specific results, as the study is described as a planned randomized controlled trial with outcomes to be measured at baseline, post-test, and 6-week follow-up.
Population
Indigenous Australian youth (aged 15 to 34) with suicidal thoughts but not actively suicidal.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
6 weeks follow-up (intervention duration not explicitly stated)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
self-help app based on acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy | decrease | frequency and intensity of suicidal thoughts | young Indigenous people who have suicidal thoughts but who are not actively suicidal | - | reduction | #1 |
self-help app based on acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy | decrease | depression | young Indigenous people who have suicidal thoughts but who are not actively suicidal | - | reduction | #2 |
self-help app based on acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy | decrease | anxiety | young Indigenous people who have suicidal thoughts but who are not actively suicidal | - | reduction | #3 |
self-help app based on acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy | decrease | impulsivity | young Indigenous people who have suicidal thoughts but who are not actively suicidal | - | reduction | #4 |
BACKGROUND: Indigenous Australian youth (aged 15 to 34) have up to four times the risk of suicide compared with their non-Indigenous counterparts. Barriers to help-seeking include shame, feared loss of autonomy and negative attitudes towards healthcare providers. The use of mobile devices and apps continues to rise amongst young people, thus presenting opportunities to utilize these aids in overcoming help-seeking barriers. Apps have been shown to assist in several health-related areas, including weight loss and smoking cessation, although no apps have as yet been evaluated for suicide prevention. Moreover, there is a lack of research that scientifically evaluates suicide prevention interventions within Indigenous communities. METHODS/DESIGN: In this study, a recently developed self-help app will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. The intervention is based on acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy. It is aimed at participants who have suicidal thoughts but who are not actively suicidal. In total, 150 participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention-condition (N = 75) or to the wait-list control condition (N = 75). Questionnaires will be completed at baseline, post-test and 6 weeks follow-up. The primary outcome measure is a reduction in frequency and intensity of suicidal thoughts. Secondary outcome measures are the reduction of depression, anxiety and impulsivity. DISCUSSION: This study is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-help app for suicidal thoughts amongst young Indigenous people. Several limitations and strengths of the design are discussed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12613000104752.