scholarly journals Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions for Suicide Prevention: Promise, Challenges, and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel D.L. Coppersmith ◽  
Walter Dempsey ◽  
Evan Kleiman ◽  
Kate Bentley ◽  
Susan Murphy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
The United States ◽  
Just In Time ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Adaptive Interventions ◽  
Internal States ◽  
Interactive Nature ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
The Right ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

The suicide rate has not changed in the United States over the past 100 years and there is a need for new ways of preventing suicide. Research has revealed that suicidal thoughts and behaviors and the factors that drive them are dynamic, heterogeneous, and interactive. Most existing interventions are infrequent (e.g., weekly sessions), not accessible when most needed, and not systematically tailored to the person using their own data. Advances in technology and statistics offer an opportunity to develop new interventions that may better match the dynamic, heterogeneous, and interactive nature of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Just-In-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) are designed to provide the right type of support at the right time by adapting to changes in internal states and external contexts, offering a promising pathway towards more effective suicide prevention. In this review, we highlight the potential of JITAIs for suicide prevention, challenges ahead for developing JITAIs for suicide prevention, and possible solutions to these challenges.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Suicide Prevention Apps for User Engagement and Usability (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsey Wilks ◽  
Carol Chu ◽  
DongGun Sim ◽  
Josh Lovell ◽  
Peter Gutierrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Treatment Delivery ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

BACKGROUND People with suicidal thoughts are more inclined to seek technology-delivered interventions than in-person forms of treatment, making mobile apps for suicide prevention an ideal platform for treatment delivery. OBJECTIVE This review examines apps designed for suicide prevention, with a specific focus on user engagement. METHODS All apps referring to suicidal thoughts and behaviors were identified in Google Play and iOS app stores and were systematically reviewed for app content and quality. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) was used to evaluate app usability and engagement. RESULTS A total of 66 apps were identified. Most (64.0%) were designed specifically for people with suicidal ideation, whereas 89.3% had at least one best practice feature for suicide risk reduction and 83.3% scored in the “acceptable” range according to the MARS. The total MARS score was not associated with the user app rating or the number of features. CONCLUSIONS Only free apps were systematically evaluated, potentially limiting the breadth of this review. It is unclear how frequently these apps are used, whether they are reaching target audiences, or most importantly, if they are effective at reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Suicide Following Trauma

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika M. Roberge ◽  
Feea R. Leifker ◽  
Shelby N. Baker ◽  
David C. Rozek ◽  
Craig J. Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Risk Populations ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. About 9 percent of adults will experience serious suicide ideation in their lifetimes, but many fewer will go on to make a suicide attempt or die by suicide. Therefore, identification of who is likely to transition from suicidal thoughts to actions is imperative to preventing suicide deaths. Traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two of a limited number of risk factors that differentiate suicide ideators from suicide attempters. Further, certain types of trauma and groups of people are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and actions. For example, childhood trauma and maltreatment, as well as history of sexual assault, are both associated with unique risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors after controlling for various additional risk factors and PTSD symptom severity. Additionally, military personnel/veterans and lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual individuals are two high-risk populations for death by suicide. Several theories of how traumatic experiences confer increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as well as theories within the ideation-to-action framework (which explain transition from suicidal thoughts to behaviors), are presented and discussed to increase understanding of this phenomenon, as well as possible targets of intervention.

scholarly journals Preliminary Investigation of the Association Between COVID-19 and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in the U.S.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooke A. Ammerman ◽  
Taylor A. Burke ◽  
Ross Jacobucci ◽  
Kenneth McClure
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Evidence suggests that the negative consequences of COVID-19 may extend far beyond its considerable death toll, having a significant impact on psychological well-being. Prior work has highlighted that previous epidemics are linked to elevated suicide rates, however, there is no research to date on the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Utilizing an online survey, the current study aimed to better understand the presence, and extent, of the association between COVID-19-related experiences and past-month suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adults in the United States. Results support an association between several COVID-19-related experiences (i.e., general distress, fear of physical harm, effects of social distancing policies) and past-month suicidal ideation and attempts. Further, we found that a significant proportion of those with recent suicidal ideation explicitly link their suicidal thoughts to COVID-19. Exploratory analyses highlight a potential additional link between COVID-19 and suicidal behavior, suggesting that a portion of individuals may be intentionally exposing themselves to the virus with intent to kill themselves. These findings underscore the need for increased suicide risk screening and access to mental health services. Particular attention should be paid to employing public health campaigns to disseminate information on such services in order to reduce the enormity of distress and emotional impairment associated with COVID-19 in the United States.

Differences in Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Three Racial Groups

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-178
Author(s):  
Brooke A. Ammerman ◽  
Martha K. Fahlgren ◽  
Kristen M. Sorgi ◽  
Michael S. McCloskey
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Assessment Procedures ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Abstract. Background: Despite being a major public health concern, it is unclear how suicidal thoughts and behaviors differentially impact separate racial groups. Aims: The aim of the current study was to examine the occurrence of nonlethal suicide events, in addition to suicide attempt characteristics and factors contributing to suicide attempts. Method: A final sample of 7,094 undergraduates from a large northeastern university, identifying as members of three racial groups (White [67.30%], Black [17.30%], and Asian [15.40%]), completed online questionnaires. Results: White participants reported increased likelihood of endorsing lifetime suicidal ideation and plan, whereas Black participants reported decreased likelihood of these events; no differences were found in rates of lifetime suicide attempts. Black participants' suicidal behavior may involve greater ambivalence of intent. A higher proportion of Asian participants endorsed interpersonal factors as contributing to their suicide attempts, whereas a greater percentage of White participants reported internal contributing factors. Limitations: Findings are limited by the sample size and assessment of lifetime suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Conclusion: The findings present a more nuanced look at attitudes and actions related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors that may inform future research and risk assessment procedures.

An analysis of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among transgender and gender diverse adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Cramer ◽  
Andrea R. Kaniuka ◽  
Farida N. Yada ◽  
Franck Diaz-Garelli ◽  
Ryan M. Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Gender Diverse ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

scholarly journals Thirty‐day suicidal thoughts and behaviors among hospital workers during the first wave of the Spain COVID‐19 outbreak

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Mortier ◽  
Gemma Vilagut ◽  
Montse Ferrer ◽  
Consol Serra ◽  
Juan Dios Molina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Workers ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

scholarly journals Psychobiological risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescence: a consideration of the role of puberty

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany C. Ho ◽  
Anthony J. Gifuni ◽  
Ian H. Gotlib
Keyword(s):  
Pubertal Timing ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors ◽  
Pubertal Transition

AbstractSuicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents. While clinicians and researchers have begun to recognize the importance of considering multidimensional factors in understanding risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) during this developmental period, the role of puberty has been largely ignored. In this review, we contend that the hormonal events that occur during puberty have significant effects on the organization and development of brain systems implicated in the regulation of social stressors, including amygdala, hippocampus, striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Guided by previous experimental work in adults, we also propose that the influence of pubertal hormones and social stressors on neural systems related to risk for STBs is especially critical to consider in adolescents with a neurobiological sensitivity to hormonal changes. Furthermore, facets of the pubertal transition, such as pubertal timing, warrant deeper investigation and may help us gain a more comprehensive understanding of sex differences in the neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying adolescent STBs. Ultimately, advancing our understanding of the pubertal processes that contribute to suicide risk will improve early detection and facilitate the development of more effective, sex-specific, psychiatric interventions for adolescents.

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