NCT04026308

Written vs Electronic Safety Planning Study

Written Safety Planning vs the Safety Net App: A Prospective Randomized Pilot Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Arkansas · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 89 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Safety planning is a brief, ED-feasible intervention which has been demonstrated to save lives and has been universally recommended by every recent expert consensus panel on suicide prevention strategies. In one popular version of the safety plan developed by Stanley et al, the patient is encouraged to write out the following items: identifying personal signs of a crisis; helpful internal coping strategies; social contacts or settings which may distract from a crisis; using family members or friends for help when in crisis; mental health professionals who can be contacted when in crisis; and restricting access to lethal means. This study aims to find out how valuable an electronic safety plan is compared to a traditional paper safety plan. People who are visiting the emergency department for thoughts of self-harm will be asked to participate.

Detailed description

This project has 3 aims: (1) Will ED patients with suicidal ideation/attempt accept coaching on safety planning from non-clinical personnel (i.e., medical students or peer supporters); (2) Are these safety plans of high-enough quality for clinical personnel; and finally, (3) Will ED patients with suicidal ideation/attempt complete safety plans electronically?

Conditions

• Suicidal Ideation
• Suicide Attempt
• Mental Health

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Safety Net App	The Safety Net app is an electronic version of a safety plan and it is available for download in Apple's App Store. A preview of the app is available at: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stanley-brown-safety-plan/id695122998. This app is owned by Two Penguins Studios, LLC. It was developed in partnership with the New York State Office of Mental Health. Unlike the paper version, the Safety Net app allows participants to email a copy of their safety plan to whomever they wish. It also allows patients to dial 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline from the app.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-09-15
• Primary completion: 2020-12-28
• Completion: 2020-12-28
• First posted: 2019-07-19
• Last updated: 2023-03-21
• Results posted: 2021-08-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States