Language
English
Publication Date
5-1-2025
Journal
Crisis
DOI
10.1027/0227-5910/a000996
PMID
40183238
PMCID
PMC12096958
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
4-4-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
Background: Digital-based mobile interventions hold significant promise in preventing suicide. Although mixed, some evidence suggests these interventions are effective and capable of overcoming barriers such as cost and stigma. Aim(s): This review aimed to determine the effectiveness of digital interventions designed to address suicidal ideation and behaviors and the impacts of age, gender, and control group type on these outcomes.
Methods: Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on digital suicide interventions (apps/online programs) published before January 1, 2022. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model in Stata 17.
Results: The search identified 4,317 articles, and 16 were included. Risk of bias analysis found studies to be of low-to-moderate quality. The random-effects model indicated a small but significant effect of treatment on suicidal ideation, k = 16, g = 0.11 (95% CI: 0–0.23), p = .049. Subgroup analyses found the interventions to have a significant effect on adults (g = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.28, p = .01) but not adolescents. The interventions showed better effects compared to waitlist controls (g = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.38) but not compared to treatment as usual or active controls [χ2(2) = 29.41, p < .001]. Limitations: Sample sizes across studies were insufficient for examining the effectiveness of digital interventions by gender. Limited studies reported on suicidal behaviors, so the impact of digital interventions on these behaviors could not be analyzed.
Conclusions: This review found a significant effect of digital interventions for reducing suicidal ideation and highlights the importance of examining the effectiveness across subgroups.
Keywords
Humans, Suicide Prevention, Suicidal Ideation, Mobile Applications, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Telemedicine
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Burr, Sean K; Yu, Miao; Clark, Danny; et al., "Digital Interventions for Suicide Prevention" (2025). Faculty and Staff Publications. 5909.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/5909