Mental Health Apps and Crisis Support: Exploring the Impact of 988

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health
• Public health interventions
• Mobile health technology

Background:

• Mental health apps are increasingly popular but often lack comprehensive crisis support.
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is the U.S. national standard for suicide prevention.
• Apps frequently direct users to external crisis resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the crisis resources provided by mental health apps.
• To assess app responsiveness to national crisis hotline guidelines.
• To identify potential risks associated with app-based crisis referrals.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search identified 302 mental health apps in January 2024.
• A modified evaluation model assessed the presence and functionality of crisis resources.
• Raters examined app referrals to national hotlines and alternative crisis lines.

Main Results:

• Only 15% of apps referred users to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
• 24% of apps provided an alternative crisis hotline number.
• 14 apps with millions of downloads offered incorrect or non-functional crisis hotlines.

Conclusions:

• In-app crisis resources require rigorous vetting and frequent updates.
• Non-functional hotlines pose significant risks to users in crisis.
• Ensuring accurate and up-to-date crisis information in mental health apps is critical.