Using a smartphone app to help reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of A Smartphone Delivered Treatment for Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10985035 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a smartphone program designed to help people who are having thoughts of suicide feel more positive about life and reduce those thoughts, and it's for anyone who is struggling with these feelings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $195,947 |
| NIH project number | 1K23MH133876-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10985035 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 18 and older who are experiencing recent and frequent suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a smartphone-delivered intervention aimed at increasing suicide aversion among individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The approach involves user-centered design interviews and a trial where participants will receive either an active or inactive version of the Therapeutic Evaluative Condition for Suicide (TEC-S) over 30 days. The study will assess the safety, acceptability, and effectiveness of this intervention in increasing perceptions of the negativity of suicide. Participants will provide weekly self-reports and undergo behavioral assessments to measure changes in their suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a scalable and accessible treatment option for individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using smartphone technology for mental health interventions is gaining traction, this specific method of increasing suicide aversion through classical conditioning is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaroszewski, Adam — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jaroszewski, Adam
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.