JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) signals a growing public health crisis. Despite a recognized need for improved and scalable interventions, our field faces several challenges: (1) Existing interventions are often time and resource intensive; (2) Most individuals with SITBs do not seek formal mental health care; and (3) Efficacious treatments are characterized by small effects. Combined these challenges indicate a need for improved SITB interventions for individuals in formal treatment and those who are not treatment-engaged but are at high risk of worsening mental health and future suicide attempts. We offer a two-pronged approach to meet these challenges. First, digital interventions hold promise to increase accessibility, and acceptability, of evidence-based treatments. Secondly, we propose involving individuals with lived experience in the design and research process to identify broadly acceptable treatment targets and improve engagement. We present a methodological approach and set of techniques that center the lived experience of individuals with SITBs in the process of developing needed services: User-centered design (UCD). UCD offers a well-developed and systematic process to foreground the unique needs, preferences, and perceived barriers of individuals with lived SITB experience in the development and evaluation of digital intervention.