Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Jul 15, 2022
Date Accepted: Feb 23, 2023
Breaking down barriers to a suicide prevention helpline: a study protocol for a web-based randomised controlled trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Every month, around four thousand people fill in the anonymous self-test for suicidal thoughts on the website of the Dutch suicide prevention helpline. The self-test includes the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale and informs people about the severity of their suicidal thoughts. The vast majority (70%) of people who complete the test score higher than the cut-off point (≥ 21) for severe suicidal thoughts. Despite this, only around 10% of test-takers navigate to the webpage about contacting the helpline.
Objective:
This study protocol presents the design of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to reduce barriers to contacting the helpline via chat or phone. The aim of our study is two-fold: (i) to measure the effectiveness of a brief barrier reduction intervention (BRI) in the self-test motivating people with severe suicidal thoughts to contact the helpline, and (ii) to specifically evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in increasing service utilisation by high-risk groups for suicide such as men and people of middle age.
Methods:
Randomised controlled trial. People with severe suicidal thoughts and little motivation to contact the helpline will be randomly allocated either to a brief BRI (N = 388) or care as usual (plain advisory text, N = 388). The primary outcome measure is the use of a direct link to contact the helpline after receiving BRI or CAU.
Results:
Data collection is expected to be completed by December of 2022.
Conclusions:
Our study will provide insight into the effectiveness of a brief BRI designed to increase the use of a suicide prevention helpline provided in a self-test on suicidal thoughts. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05458830
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