Flourish for middle and high school students affected by cyberbullying
Adaptation and Implementation of Flourish Within Schools: Strengthening Suicide Prevention Services for Adolescents Experiencing Online Victimization
This pilot will test Flourish, a text- and web-based program, to see if it helps middle and high school students who have experienced cyberbullying and are at risk for suicide.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 11 Years to 21 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Pittsburgh Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Bay Village, Ohio and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07506525 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Flourish is a 4-week automated texting program with an accompanying website that teaches distress tolerance, social problem-solving, and help-seeking skills tailored for youth who have experienced cyberbullying. Middle and high school students (ages 11–21) who report recent cybervictimization and suicide risk factors or are referred by school staff will be onboarded and asked to use Flourish about 2–3 times per week. Participants complete questionnaires and clinical interviews at baseline and follow-ups at 2, 4, and 12 weeks to track psychological distress, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and social media experiences. The pilot will measure feasibility (≥80% recruitment/retention and weekly use by ≥80% of participants) and change in distress and suicidal ideation over three months, plus exit interviews with school personnel to identify implementation barriers and facilitators.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking students aged 11–21 with access to a phone or tablet who have experienced cyberbullying and recent suicide risk factors or who are identified by school staff as likely to benefit.
Not a fit: Students who cannot meaningfully engage with a text/web program (for example, due to significant cognitive impairment), lack reliable SMS/device access, or require immediate intensive psychiatric care may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Flourish could reduce psychological distress and suicidal thoughts after cyberbullying and provide a scalable, school-deliverable support option.
How similar studies have performed: Prior digital and text-based adolescent mental health programs have shown mixed but promising results for reducing distress and improving help-seeking, while a targeted cyberbullying-focused program like Flourish is a more novel application.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 11-21 years old * English-speaking * have access to a cell phone or tablet that can send/receive SMS text messages * identified as a student who could benefit from the program by a school staff member - OR - screened eligible based on experiencing cyberbullying and suicide risk factors in the past 3 months * past 3-month history of cyberbullying assessed by the cybervictimization subscale of the Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization Scale and/or presence of online discrimination as measured by a modified measure from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD study) * past 3-month history of suicide risk factors, assessed by: psychological distress (\>13 on the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) and/or suicidal ideation or behavior (via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale) Exclusion Criteria: * if a student has a condition that might inhibit their ability to effectively engage with Flourish (e.g., intellectual challenges or low literacy levels) * if a students' level of acuity would suggest a higher level of care or referral to emergency services * if a school staff judges the intervention is not appropriate for the student
Where this trial is running
Bay Village, Ohio and 1 other locations
- Bay Village School District — Bay Village, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
- University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Candice L Biernesser, PhD — University of Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Candice L Biernesser, PhD
- Email: lubbertcl@upmc.edu
- Phone: 412-586-9064
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.