The Use of Mobile Health Technology in Suicide Prevention Dr Ruth Melia 12/07/2017

History of the Project Clinical experience of working with families and communities Development of CAATCH suicide prevention initiative Awareness Raising Community Participation Public Information Event NOSP Training: Safe Talk, Assist Mobile App Development

Background Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds globally (WHO, 2012) Accounted for 507 deaths in Ireland alone in 2012 (NSRF, 2012) Suicidal behaviour is the result of a complex interaction of psychiatric, psychological, social, and cultural factors (Hawton & van Heeringen, 2009; O’Connor & Nock, 2014; O’Connor, Platt, & Gordon, 2011b). Prospective studies have attempted to predict which individuals will attempt or die by suicide (O’Connor, Smyth, Ferguson, Ryan, & Williams, 2013). A range of risk factors that correlate with suicidal behaviour have been identified (e.g. Bernert, Kim, Iwata et al., 2015).

Risk Factors Protective Factors Societal Community Relationships Individual Risk Factors Protective Factors

Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory (2005)

mHealth and Suicide Prevention Mobile technology offers an opportunity to address two of the major barriers to help-seeking in those at risk: geographical isolation and stigma (Christensen, Batterham & O’Dea, 2014) 5,626,484 mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland June 2014 (Walsh & Corbett, 2015) 90% of users have their mobile devices near them 24 hours a day (European Commission, 2014) mHealth technology research has illustrated the use of smartphone apps in increasing physical activity, and decrease weight and blood pressure (Glynn, Hayes, Casey et al., 2014)

Barriers to Help-Seeking Perceived Stigma Geographical Isolation Undetected Attrition Anonymous Accessible Monitor

CAATCH App

Research Outputs Bogue, J., Melia, R., Duggan, J., Walton, J. (2017). The Development of a Suicide Prevention Mobile App: a Case Study. European Health Psychology Conference, Padua, Italy. Melia, R., Duggan, J. Bogue, J., Walton, J. (2017). The Development of a Suicide Prevention Mobile App: a Case Study. International Congress on Female Mental Health, Dublin Ireland Duggan, J., Bogue, J., Melia, R., Walton, J. (2016) The Development of a Suicide Prevention Mobile App: a Case Study. mHealth Research Conference, National University of Ireland Galway Walton, J., Bogue, J., Duggan, J., Melia, R. (2016). The Development of a Suicide Prevention Mobile App: a Case Study. Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference, Galway, Ireland

Fulbright Scholarship Examine the use of mobile health technology in suicide prevention: Delphi Study Contribute to ongoing suicide prevention clinical trials as a study clinician Fulbright Cultural Enrichment Programme

Current Research Challenges Risk Factors Statistical Transient Recording Risk Algorithms Individual Data EMA

Professional learning Appointed to Stanford School of Medicine faculty based at the Suicide Prevention Research Laboratory and gained Institutional Research Board Approval Received training and accreditation in the use of suicide-specific tools: CSSRS, Beck SIS, HIPPA training, VA Safety Planning Integrated in the process and planning of clinical trial research Preparing grant proposal applications Preparing research papers for publication / review

Reflections Clinical research – practise linking Standardised use of risk assessment tools such as the CSSR-S and established prevention protocols Focus of research and intervention on the individual v social Importance of mHealth technology within suicide prevention research and intervention

Current Project NOSP funding to develop a nationally- transferable tool. Team expertise: ReachOut, HSE Your Mental Health, NOSP, NUIG Psychology & Engineering Departments Integrate newer platform technology to develop a more interactive / individually-specific tool Trial and evaluate new technology within a specific area to inform roll-out nationally Prepare research for publication and to support applications for further development of project

Clinician Stakeholders to support further advancement of the project: design, development, user testing and evaluation

ruth.melia@hse.ie