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Experience of one of the participants

Posted by hmarsden on 25 Oct 2022 at 06:13 GMT

I was one of the 455 young individuals involved in the program, specifically one of 227 given the "control" lifebuoy trial. Interesting to see the results of the trial after its completion and I applaud it's methodology. The conclusion that reached by the study that the non-therapeutic information in the control had little efficacy in treating suicidal ideation is something I can attest to, but neither (in my personal experience) did the lack of specific therapeutic advice create harm. I don't believe that I personally experienced a placebo effect either, as the app very easily was forgotten for vast intervals in-between the assessments, the longevity of which reducing the efficacy of the apps overtly-general advice to a greater extent. Even so, a modicum of safety and comfort was found in particularly the support lines and services listed, which I believe indicates the positive effect of personal digital-interventionism even when only basic information/services are provided.

Competing interests declared: Involved as a male participant in the study, assigned to the "control" variation of the lifebuoy application