A Systematic Assessment of Smartphone Tools for Suicide Prevention.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Suicide is a leading cause of death globally, and there has been a rapid growth in the use of new technologies such as mobile health applications (apps) to help identify and support those at risk. However, it is not known whether these apps are evidence-based, or indeed contain potentially harmful content. This review examines the concordance of features in publicly available apps with current scientific evidence of effective suicide prevention strategies.

Methods

Apps referring to suicide or deliberate self-harm (DSH) were identified on the Android and iOS app stores. Systematic review methodology was employed to screen and review app content. App features were labelled using a coding scheme that reflected the broad range of evidence-based medical and population-

SUBMITTER: Larsen ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4830444 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature