Centering Lived Experience in Developing Digital Interventions for Suicide and Self-injurious Behaviors:...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) represent a significant public health crisis.
• Current SITB interventions face challenges in scalability, accessibility, and treatment efficacy.
• There is a critical need for improved interventions for both engaged and unengaged individuals at risk of SITB.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present user-centered design (UCD) as a methodological approach to address challenges in SITB intervention development.
• To center the lived experience of individuals with SITB in the creation of effective and accessible services.
• To explore the application of UCD in the context of digital interventions for SITB.

Main Methods:

• Describing the UCD approach and its application in including lived experience throughout intervention development and evaluation.
• Providing a case example of UCD's early development phases for designing engaging, user-needs-driven interventions.
• Highlighting novel applications of UCD for emerging directions in SITB research.

Main Results:

• Digital interventions show promise for extending the reach of evidence-based SITB treatments beyond traditional healthcare settings.
• Involving individuals with lived experience in the design and research process can enhance treatment targets and engagement.
• A two-pronged approach combining digital delivery and user-centered development addresses key intervention challenges.

Conclusions:

• User-centered design (UCD) provides a systematic process for incorporating the needs, preferences, and barriers of individuals with SITB.
• UCD is crucial for developing and evaluating digital interventions that are tailored to end-users.
• Centering lived experience through UCD can lead to more effective and engaging SITB interventions.