The Acceptability of a Smartphone App (BlueIce) for University Students Who Self-harm

Cliffe, Bethany; Stokes, Zoe; Stallard, Paul

doi:10.1080/13811118.2021.2022552

Cited by 9 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The 32 publications included in the review consisted of 16 studies that examined the feasibility and acceptability of mobile apps for suicide prevention [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], 10 studies that analyzed the efficacy of mobile apps in managing suicide risk [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ], of which 7 studies were randomized control trials (RCTs) [ 43 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 49 , 52 ], and 6 studies that described protocols of randomized control trials not yet implemented [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ]. Publication dates ranged from 2013 to 2022.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 1 , Table 2 , Table 3 and Table 4 report selected study characteristics. The majority of studies took place in Europe ( n = 13) [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 49 , 53 , 54 ] and the USA ( n = 9) [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 43 , 44 , 47 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sixteen studies analyzed the feasibility and acceptability of mobile apps that aim to prevent suicidality ( Table 1 ). The samples recruited for each study were heterogenous and consisted of psychiatric patients [ 30 , 33 , 34 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], adolescents with suicidal ideation or behaviors [ 28 , 31 , 32 , 39 ], Australian Aboriginals [ 29 , 36 ], students and expert clinicians [ 35 ], and transgender individuals [ 37 ]. Most of the apps presented the opportunity to create a safety plan [ 31 , 33 , 35 ], provided tools for improving coping skills [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 34 , 40 ], consisted of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) [ 38 , 41 ], or allowed daily monitoring of the state of mind through a mood diary [ 33 , 37 , 41 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the app BlueIce [ 32 , 39 ] provides a personalized toolbox of strategies based on theoretical approaches including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and behavioral activation. The Crisis Care app [ 28 ] has two versions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding the feasibility and acceptability of these apps, researchers conducted different assessments: focus groups [ 29 , 31 , 35 , 37 ], clinical field testing [ 27 ], qualitative analysis [ 33 , 34 , 37 , 39 , 41 ], estimates of interactions with the app [ 28 , 30 , 33 , 34 , 36 , 38 , 41 ], semi-structured interviews [ 32 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 42 ] and self-report satisfaction questionnaires [ 28 , 30 , 38 , 40 , 41 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

The Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Monitoring and Management of Suicide Crisis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Sarubbi

Rogante

Erbuto

et al. 2022

JCM

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Suicide risk is a multifaceted phenomenon, and many risk factors are involved in its complexity. In the last few decades, mental health apps have spread, providing economic and affordable strategies to prevent suicide. Therefore, the aim of this review is to identify original studies on mobile apps that target suicidal crises. The review follows PRISMA guidelines, searching through four major electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycInfo and Web of Science) for relevant titles/abstracts published from January 2010 to May 2022. It includes original studies that explicitly analyze mobile apps for suicide prevention. A total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies assessed the feasibility and acceptability of mobile apps, ten studies assessed the efficacy of mobile apps in preventing suicide, and six studies described randomized control trial protocols not yet implemented. Generally, the apps were judged by participants to be acceptable and helpful, and several improvements to enhance the functionality of apps were suggested. The efficacy of mobile apps, although limited and assessed with very heterogenous methods, was confirmed by most of the studies. Mobile apps could represent a helpful supplement to traditional prevention tactics, providing real-time monitoring of at-risk persons, personalized tools to cope with suicidal crises, and immediate access to specific support.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Monitoring and Management of Suicide Crisis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Sarubbi

Rogante

Erbuto

et al. 2022

JCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Acceptability, use and safety of the BlueIce self-harm prevention app: qualitative findings from the Beating Adolescent Self-Harm (BASH) randomised controlled trial

Stallard,

Whittle,

Moore

et al. 2024

BMJ Ment Health

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BackgroundLittle is known about the social validity of self-harm prevention apps for young adolescents with severe mental health problems who repeatedly self-harm.ObjectiveWe assessed the acceptability, use and safety of BlueIce, a self-harm prevention app for young adolescents who self-harm.MethodsMixed methods study involving a content analysis of postuse interviews. Participants were a clinical group of 60 UK adolescents aged 12–17 with repeated self-harm, randomised to receive BlueIce.FindingsBlueIce was used by 57/60 (95%) respondents with 47/57 (82%) using BlueIce when thinking about self-harm. 17/47 (36%) who were thinking about self-harm used it on more than six occasions with 36/47 (77%) reporting that BlueIce prevented at least one episode of self-harm. 33/47 (70%) reported occasions when they used the app but still went on to self-harm. Reasons why the app was not used or not helpful included feeling too distressed, a negative mindset, prior decision to self-harm or forgetting. BlueIce was rated 4.09 (SD=0.75) out of 5 stars, with high mean ratings out of 10 for ease of use (8.70, SD=1.37) and good for acceptability (7.68, SD=2.05) and helpfulness (6.77, SD=1.72). No respondent identified BlueIce as triggering any episode of self-harm.ConclusionThese findings are consistent with previous evaluations and highlight the acceptability, use and safety of BlueIce. Self-reports indicate that BlueIce prevented some episodes of self-harm.Clinical implicationsOur results highlight the acceptability of the BlueIce self-harm app for young adolescents who repeatedly self-harm.

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Is a smartphone application (BlueIce) acceptable and safe for university students who self-harm: an open study

Cliffe,

Moore,

Whittle

et al. 2024

BMJ Open

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BackgroundMany university students self-harm but few receive support. Smartphone apps have been identified as acceptable sources of support for students who self-harm, but the use of supportive self-harm apps is yet to be explored in this population.ObjectiveThis study sought to explore the acceptability and safety of a specific app (BlueIce) for university students who self-harm.MethodsThis was an exploratory, mixed methods study with 15 university students attending university well-being services with self-harming thoughts and/or behaviours. BlueIce was offered alongside the face-to-face support provided by the well-being service. Self-harming thoughts and behaviours, coping self-efficacy, and symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured before and after using BlueIce for 6 weeks. Follow-up interviews were also undertaken to explore how students perceived BlueIce in more depth.ResultsFollowing app use, there were statistically significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety (baseline M 12.47, SD 4.42; follow-up M 10, SD 4.16) t(14)=2.26, p=0.040, d=0.58 and depression (baseline M 16.5, SD 5.17, follow-up M 12.27, SD 3.66) t(13)=5.50, p<0.001, d=1.47. Qualitative findings showed participants found BlueIce to be acceptable, safe and helpful, and reported that they were more able to cope with difficult feelings and better understand their self-harm triggers following use of the app.ConclusionBlueIce was an acceptable, safe and helpful source of support for university students struggling with self-harm thoughts and/or behaviours. This builds on previous findings with adolescents and suggests that BlueIce could be a particularly acceptable and helpful resource for university students.

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The Acceptability of a Smartphone App (BlueIce) for University Students Who Self-harm

Cited by 9 publications

References 38 publications

The Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Monitoring and Management of Suicide Crisis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Monitoring and Management of Suicide Crisis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Acceptability, use and safety of the BlueIce self-harm prevention app: qualitative findings from the Beating Adolescent Self-Harm (BASH) randomised controlled trial

Is a smartphone application (BlueIce) acceptable and safe for university students who self-harm: an open study

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