TY - JOUR
T1 - A web-based video messaging intervention for suicide prevention in men
T2 - study protocol for a five-armed randomised controlled trial
AU - Han, Jin
AU - Slade, Aimy
AU - Fujimoto, Hiroko
AU - Zheng, Wu Yi
AU - Shvetcov, Artur
AU - Hoon, Leonard
AU - Funke Kupper, Joost
AU - Senadeera, Manisha
AU - Gupta, Sunil
AU - Venkatesh, Svetha
AU - Mouzakis, Kon
AU - Gu, Yuanyuan
AU - Bilgrami, Anam
AU - Saba, Noura
AU - Cutler, Henry
AU - Batterham, Philip
AU - Boydell, Katherine
AU - Shand, Fiona
AU - Whitton, Alexis
AU - Christensen, Helen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Background: More than 50% of people who die by suicide have not been in contact with formal mental health services. The rate of people who fly ‘under the radar’ of mental health services is higher among men than women, indicating a need to improve engagement strategies targeted towards men who experience suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours. In Australia, a range of mental health support services exist, designed specifically for men, yet, a substantial proportion of men do not use these services. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a brief online video-based messaging intervention is an effective approach for encouraging men with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours to engage with existing support services. Methods: Informed by a literature review, surveys, and consultation with men with a lived experience of suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours, we designed five video-based messages that will be used in this five-arm randomised controlled trial. A total of 380 (76 per arm) men aged 18 years or older with suicidal thoughts who are not currently accessing formal mental health services will be recruited online and randomly assigned to watch one of the five web-based video messages. After viewing the video, men will be presented with information about four existing Australian support services, along with links to these services. The primary outcome will be help-seeking, operationalised as a click on any one of the four support service links, immediately after viewing the video. Secondary outcomes include immediate self-reported help-seeking intentions in addition to self-reported use of the support services during a 1-week follow-up period. We will also use the Discrete Choice Experiment methodology to determine what aspects of support services (e.g. low cost, short appointment wait times) are most valued by this group of men. Discussion: This study is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief web-based video messaging intervention for promoting engagement with existing support services among men with suicidal thoughts who are not currently receiving formal help. If found to be effective, this would represent a scalable, cost-effective approach to promote help-seeking for this at-risk population. Limitations and strengths of this study design are discussed.
AB - Background: More than 50% of people who die by suicide have not been in contact with formal mental health services. The rate of people who fly ‘under the radar’ of mental health services is higher among men than women, indicating a need to improve engagement strategies targeted towards men who experience suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours. In Australia, a range of mental health support services exist, designed specifically for men, yet, a substantial proportion of men do not use these services. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a brief online video-based messaging intervention is an effective approach for encouraging men with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours to engage with existing support services. Methods: Informed by a literature review, surveys, and consultation with men with a lived experience of suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours, we designed five video-based messages that will be used in this five-arm randomised controlled trial. A total of 380 (76 per arm) men aged 18 years or older with suicidal thoughts who are not currently accessing formal mental health services will be recruited online and randomly assigned to watch one of the five web-based video messages. After viewing the video, men will be presented with information about four existing Australian support services, along with links to these services. The primary outcome will be help-seeking, operationalised as a click on any one of the four support service links, immediately after viewing the video. Secondary outcomes include immediate self-reported help-seeking intentions in addition to self-reported use of the support services during a 1-week follow-up period. We will also use the Discrete Choice Experiment methodology to determine what aspects of support services (e.g. low cost, short appointment wait times) are most valued by this group of men. Discussion: This study is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief web-based video messaging intervention for promoting engagement with existing support services among men with suicidal thoughts who are not currently receiving formal help. If found to be effective, this would represent a scalable, cost-effective approach to promote help-seeking for this at-risk population. Limitations and strengths of this study design are discussed.
KW - Men
KW - Service preferences
KW - Suicide
KW - Support services
KW - Video messaging
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85198059319&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s13063-024-08308-1
DO - 10.1186/s13063-024-08308-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 38982443
AN - SCOPUS:85198059319
SN - 1745-6215
VL - 25
JO - Trials
JF - Trials
IS - 1
M1 - 466
ER -