SMS SOS: a randomized controlled trial to reduce self-harm and suicide attempts using SMS text messaging

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Public Health
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Deliberate self-harm (DSH) presents a significant public health challenge due to its high incidence and repetition rates.
• Hospital-treated DSH incurs substantial costs and necessitates effective interventions to prevent recurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a Short Message Service (SMS) text message intervention combined with Treatment As Usual (TAU) in reducing hospital re-presentation rates for DSH.
• To compare the SMS intervention plus TAU group against a TAU-alone group in a Western Sydney public hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• A 24-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving adult patients presenting with DSH.
• Participants were randomized to receive nine SMS text messages over 12 months post-discharge, containing mental health crisis support contact information, or TAU alone.
• Primary outcomes included the number of DSH re-presentations and time to first re-presentation within 12 months.

Main Results:

• The study protocol describes the design and implementation of an RCT using SMS text messages.
• Positive study findings would support the translation of an SMS-aftercare protocol into mental health services at minimal expense.

Conclusions:

• The study protocol outlines an RCT designed to assess the effectiveness of SMS text messages in reducing DSH re-presentations.
• Successful implementation of this SMS-aftercare protocol could offer a cost-effective strategy for mental health services to reduce DSH recurrence.