How TikTok Trigger Warnings affect at-risk youth

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Researchers will recruit youths aged 14-19 with a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors and randomize them to view suicide-related TikTok content with or without trigger warnings. The trial will measure changes in affect and state anxiety after exposure, helping to understand if warnings influence emotional responses and avoidance. The study is conducted at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto and aims to clarify whether trigger warnings protect or fail to protect vulnerable youths in social media contexts.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Lifetime or recent suicidal thoughts as measured on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)20 screening version. Defined as answering "YES" Question 2 on the C-SSRS with a lifetime and/or past month time-framing ("In your entire life, have you ever had any thoughts of killing yourself?" and/or "In the past month, have you had any thoughts of killing yourself?")
* Self-identified consumer of short-form content on social media (e.g. Instagram reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts) in the last year.
* English comprehension

Exclusion Criteria:

* Suicidal ideation with any intent or plan in the last 6 months. Defined as answering "YES" on any one C-SSRS Question 3 to 5 with a past 6-months timeframe. Note: Suicidal ideation in the absence of intent or planning is not an exclusion criterion
* Suicidal behaviour in the last 6 months. Defined as answering "YES" to C-SSRS Question 6 ("In your entire life, have you ever done anything, started to do anything, or prepared to do anything to end your life?") AND a 6-months follow up questions ("Was this within the past 6 months?"). Note: Lifetime suicidal behaviour (i.e. answering yes to only Question 6) is not an exclusion criterion
* In active psychosis or mania, as indicated by patient's medical records

Where it's running

• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Rachel Mitchell, MD, MSc — University of Toronto; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center
• Study coordinator: Zoe Shelton, B.A.
• Email: zoejacklyn.shelton@mail.utoronto.ca
• Phone: 4388703910

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.