Digital Interventions for Suicide Prevention

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.