Design and Feasibility of an SMS-based Safety Planning Intervention

Conditions

• Suicidal Ideation and Behavior

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - 24 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Text Messaging based Safety Planning Intervention — BEHAVIORAL
  A 4-week automated text messaging intervention designed to guide users through the steps of the safety planning process. The intervention delivers structured, interactive messages daily addressing coping strategies, crisis resources, environmental safety, family and friends for support, distraction techniques, and recognition of warning signs.
• Facilitated Referral to Crisis Resources — BEHAVIORAL
  Text messages that are non-interactive and contain referral to crisis services (e.g., the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and (c) the Trevor Project Lifeline).

Study Details

This study is testing whether it is feasible to run a larger randomized controlled trial and whether an automated text messaging program is acceptable to young adults who have suicidal thoughts. The program is designed to help participants create and use a safety plan, which is a personalized list of warning signs, coping strategies, supportive people, professional resources, ways to make their environment safer, and reasons for living. After joining and completing an initial survey, participants are randomly assigned by a computer to one of two groups. One group starts right away with the interactive safety planning text program. The other group first receives simple text messages with 24/7 crisis resources and then, after four weeks, also receives the interactive safety planning program. Participants use the text program for about four weeks and complete online surveys at the start and again over a total period of 24 weeks.

Key Dates

Start date

Jun 2, 2026

Status verified

Jun 2026

Primary completion

May 4, 2027

Completion

Jun 30, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Arms

• Experimental: SMS based safety planning intervention (SMS-SPI)
  The SMS-SPI consists of a 4-week automated text messaging intervention. It is designed to guide users through the steps of the safety planning process for management of suicide related thoughts and behaviors. The intervention delivers structured, interactive messages daily addressing coping strategies, crisis resources, environmental safety, family and friends for support, distraction techniques, and recognition of warning signs. The number of messages sent each day varies based on users' interactions with the program; users who respond more frequently may receive more messages. In addition to text messaging, the program includes a web-based interface that enabled users to conveniently review and update their safety plan. The SMS-SPI uses message stems that establish a particular topic (e.g., identification of crisis warning signs) and message probes that follow-up on users' responses, which is individualized through branching logic.
• Active Comparator: Enhanced waitlist control (eWLC)
  Text messages that are non-interactive and contain referral to crisis services (e.g., the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and (c) the Trevor Project Lifeline). Facilitated referral is a first-line prevention strategy for suicide and is a best-practice commonly integrated into internet-based screenings and informational tools.

Primary Outcome Measure

Frequency of suicidal thoughts [ Time Frame: enrollment to 4 weeks ]

Central Contacts

• Jonah Meyerhoff, PhD
  312-503-1232
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Chicago, IL

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