The safety and acceptability of delivering an online intervention to secondary students at risk of suicide: findings from a pilot study

Suicide‐related behaviour is a major problem among adolescents. Yet relatively few studies have tested the efficacy, acceptability and safety of interventions for this population. We developed and pilot tested an online intervention for at‐risk school students, which has led to reduced suicidal ideation, hopelessness and depressive symptoms. The aims of this study were to examine the safety and acceptability of the programme, and to determine which components were found to be most helpful and enjoyable.

[1]  Martin H. Schmidt,et al.  Parasuicide online: Can suicide websites trigger suicidal behaviour in predisposed adolescents? , 2004, Nordic journal of psychiatry.

[2]  R. Kessler,et al.  Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress , 2002, Psychological Medicine.

[3]  H. Riper,et al.  Economic evaluation of online computerised cognitive–behavioural therapy without support for depression in primary care: randomised trial , 2010, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[4]  J B Carlin,et al.  Adolescent suicidal behaviours: a population-based study of risk , 1997, Psychological Medicine.

[5]  P. Spinhoven,et al.  Cognitive-behavioural intervention for self-harm: randomised controlled trial , 2008, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[6]  J. Pirkis,et al.  Research priorities in suicide prevention in Australia. A comparison of current research efforts and stakeholder-identified priorities. , 2008, Crisis.

[7]  T. Richardson,et al.  Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review , 2010, Clinical child and family psychology review.

[8]  G. Shahar,et al.  Suicide Prevention by Online Support Groups: An Action Theory-Based Model of Emotional First Aid , 2009, Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research.

[9]  E. Costello,et al.  Proximal psychiatric risk factors for suicidality in youth: the Great Smoky Mountains Study. , 2006, Archives of general psychiatry.

[10]  K. Cavanagh.  Turn on, tune in and (don't) drop out: engagement, adherence, attrition and alliance with internet-based interventions , 2010 .

[11]  R. Goldney.  Suicide prevention: a pragmatic review of recent studies. , 2005, Crisis.

[12]  D. Brent.  Glad for what TADS adds, but many TADS grads still sad. , 2006, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[13]  Amanda Aitken Ba Pgce DipCouns.  Suicide and the internet , 2009 .

[14]  H. Christensen,et al.  The efficacy of internet interventions for depression and anxiety disorders: a review of randomised controlled trials , 2010, The Medical journal of Australia.

[15]  A. Barak,et al.  Writing characteristics of suicidal people on the Internet: a psychological investigation of emerging social environments. , 2005, Suicide & life-threatening behavior.

[16]  Elaine Greidanus,et al.  Helper therapy in an online suicide prevention community , 2010 .

[17]  A. van Straten,et al.  Effectiveness of Online Self-Help for Suicidal Thoughts: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial , 2010, PloS one.

[18]  Heleen Riper,et al.  Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for symptoms of depression and anxiety: a meta-analysis , 2006, Psychological Medicine.

[19]  Nickolai Titov,et al.  Status of Computerized Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Adults , 2007, The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry.

[20]  H. Christensen,et al.  A controlled trial of a school‐based Internet program for reducing depressive symptoms in adolescent girls , 2009, Depression and Anxiety.

[21]  S. Hetrick,et al.  Preventing Suicide in Young People: Systematic Review , 2011, The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry.

[22]  M. Keller,et al.  Effective components of TORDIA cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescent depression: preliminary findings. , 2009, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

[23]  Matthew K Nock,et al.  Suicide and suicidal behavior. , 2008, Epidemiologic reviews.

[24]  H. Christensen,et al.  Adherence in Internet Interventions for Anxiety and Depression: Systematic Review , 2009, Journal of medical Internet research.

[25]  P. O'Carroll,et al.  Suicide contagion and the reporting of suicide: recommendations from a national workshop. United States Department of Health and Human Services. , 1994, MMWR. Recommendations and reports : Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Recommendations and reports.

[26]  G. Andrews,et al.  Interpreting scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) , 2001, Australian and New Zealand journal of public health.

[27]  Benedetto Vitiello,et al.  Fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and their combination for adolescents with depression: Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS) randomized controlled trial. , 2004, JAMA.

[28]  V. R. Weersing,et al.  Core Components of Therapy in Youth , 2009, Behavior modification.

[29]  H. Christensen,et al.  Effects of a Cognitive‐Behavioural Internet Program on Depression, Vulnerability to Depression and Stigma in Adolescent Males: A School‐Based Controlled Trial , 2006, Cognitive behaviour therapy.

[30]  Jennifer D. June,et al.  Social media and suicide: a public health perspective. , 2012, American journal of public health.

[31]  J. Bridge,et al.  Epidemiology of youth suicide and suicidal behavior , 2009, Current opinion in pediatrics.

[32]  C. Cantor,et al.  Cybersuicide: the role of interactive suicide notes on the Internet. , 1997, Crisis.

[33]  J. Pirkis,et al.  Can an Internet‐based intervention reduce suicidal ideation, depression and hopelessness among secondary school students: results from a pilot study , 2016, Early intervention in psychiatry.

[34]  Ria Birbal,et al.  Cybersuicide and the adolescent population: challenges of the future? , 2009, International journal of adolescent medicine and health.