Citation

Spangler DA, Muñoz RF, Chu J, Leykin Y. Crisis 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-4.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000600

PMID

31066308

Abstract

Background: The Internet may offer resources for individuals who struggle with suicidality but have no access to other resources or fail to use them. Aims: To develop an automated, self-guided Internet-based safety plan (IBSP), and to evaluate its use and perceived utility among individuals who report suicidality online. Method: Participants (N = 150) were recruited from a depression/suicide screening website. Participants developed personalized safety plans and reported their perceived utility. Results: Participants reported moderate utility of the IBSP. Participants' demographic and clinical characteristics were not related to any metrics reflecting the perceived utility of the IBSP, suggesting that the ISBP does not appeal more or less to any particular group. Similarly, participant characteristics were largely unrelated to IBSP completion rates. The sole exception was gender, with males completing fewer steps (p < .001). Interestingly, participants were more likely to believe that IBSP could be helpful for others than for themselves (p < .001). Limitations: Quality and use of IBSPs were not assessed; poststudy assessments were limited to those completing the study; participants uninterested in reducing suicidality are not represented. Conclusion: The IBSP may eventually be an acceptable tool for Internet users at risk for suicide.

Keywords: safety plan, Internet, usability, online interventions, suicide

Yan Leykin
, Department of Psychology
, Palo Alto University
, 1791 Arastradero Rd.
, Palo Alto, CA 94304
, USA
, yleykin@paloaltou.edu

Language: en

Keywords

Internet; online interventions; safety plan; suicide; usability