Design and Feasibility of an SMS-based Safety Planning Intervention

ConditionSuicidal Ideation and Behavior

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age18-24

SponsorNorthwestern University

About this trial

This study is testing whether it is feasible to run a larger randomized controlled trial and whether an automated text messaging program is acceptable to young adults who have suicidal thoughts. The program is designed to help participants create and use a safety plan, which is a personalized list of warning signs, coping strategies, supportive people, professional resources, ways to make their environment safer, and reasons for living. After joining and completing an initial survey, participants are randomly assigned by a computer to one of two groups. One group starts right away with the interactive safety planning text program. The other group first receives simple text messages with 24/7 crisis resources and then, after four weeks, also receives the interactive safety planning program. Participants use the text program for about four weeks and complete online surveys at the start and again over a total period of 24 weeks.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Ages 18 to 24 *The age to provide consent in Nebraska is 19. Individuals recruited from the state of Nebraska must be 19 or older.

endorsement of past 2-week suicidal ideation

Resident of the United States

Owns a smartphone

Disqualifiers

Serious mental illness for which intervention would be contraindicated (i.e., active psychosis or mania)

Imminent suicidality (i.e., experiencing active suicidal ideation with a plan and intent to act)

Written English language skills that are insufficient to engage in the consent, design, evaluation, or intervention procedures.

Trial design

Design model

Crossover

Treatments tested in this trial

Text Messaging based Safety Planning Intervention
Behavioral
A 4-week automated text messaging intervention designed to guide users through the steps of the safety planning process. The intervention delivers structured, interactive messages daily addressing coping strategies, crisis resources, environmental safety, family and friends for support, distraction techniques, and recognition of warning signs.
Facilitated Referral to Crisis Resources
Behavioral
Text messages that are non-interactive and contain referral to crisis services (e.g., the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and (c) the Trevor Project Lifeline).

Treatment groups

60 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: SMS based safety planning intervention (SMS-SPI)Experimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: Enhanced waitlist control (eWLC)Active comparator 2 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Frequency of suicidal thoughts

The number of times an individual has experienced suicidal thoughts

Time frame

enrollment to 4 weeks

Frequency of suicidal behaviors

Time frame

enrollment to 4 weeks

Severity of suicidal thoughts

Time frame

enrollment to 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

Unbearable Psychache Scale (UP3)

Measure of psychic pain. Range 3-15. Higher scores indicate worse psychological pain.

Time frame

enrollment to 4 weeks

Beck Hopelessness Scale-Short Form (BHS-SF)

Brief measure of hopelessness. Items rated 1 or 0. Scores range from 0-4, with higher scores indicating more hopelessness.

Time frame

Enrollment to 4 weeks

PROMIS Social Isolation - CAT

Brief measure of Social Isolation

Time frame

Enrollment to 4 weeks

Suicide Capacity Scale (SC3)

Brief measure assessing subjective capacity to engage in suicide. Scores range from 0-36. Higher scores indicate greater suicide capacity

Time frame

enrollment to 4 weeks

Other outcomes

Suicide Related Coping Scale

Suicide Related Coping measure ranging from 0-68, higher scores indicate greater suicide related coping.

Time frame

Enrollment to 4 weeks

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Northwestern University

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

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