Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have found that short-term, virtual interventions are particularly effective in reducing and preventing suicidal thoughts among adolescents. The study, published in the journal Behavior Therapy, highlights that digital formats are more acceptable to teenagers than traditional, face-to-face meetings.
Although suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents, a large portion of vulnerable teenagers currently do not—or simply cannot—receive timely psychological help. The primary barriers identified include:
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Stigma surrounding mental health;
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Limited access to services;
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Fear that seeking help will automatically trigger the involvement of parents or guardians.
The study involved 51 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 who had recently experienced suicidal ideation. They were randomly assigned to three groups:
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Crisis Response Planning (CRP) via chat;
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CRP in a face-to-face setting;
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Virtual, independent safety planning (control group).
The results showed that, regardless of the format, nearly 40% of participants no longer reported suicidal thoughts two weeks after the intervention. However, it is noteworthy that adolescents were most satisfied with the chat-based version. They found this format significantly easier to use.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 10% of high school students have attempted suicide, while 22% have seriously considered it.
