Brief Interventions on Social Media to Reduce Suicide Risk (Intervention 3)

NCT06114849 | Terminated

• 1 other identifier: IRB19-1260-3
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 29
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This clinical trial is part of a series of brief interventions to reduce suicide risk in collaboration with the social media platform RallyPoint, a site specifically designed for U.S. servicemembers and veterans to connect with one another. In this RCT (Intervention 3: Professional Outreach), the investigators will test a psychoeducational intervention aimed at increasing users' likelihood of reaching out to mental health resources (e.g., suicide hotline) when experiencing distress.

Conditions

Suicide; Distress, Emotional

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Number of participants reporting use of resources

  The investigators are primarily interested in whether participants in both groups contacted professional/emergency services after receiving the intervention or treatment-as-usual. Participants will be sent follow-up surveys to ask about which resources they have contacted.

  24 hrs post intervention

Study Arms (2)

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will be identified using a machine learning risk algorithm developed by the investigators that will automatically identify concerning posts (e.g., those mentioning suicidal thoughts or behaviors). RallyPoint members whose posts are flagged will randomly be assigned to the intervention group or the control group.

Behavioral: Treatment as usual

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be identified using a machine learning risk algorithm developed by the investigators that will automatically identify concerning posts (e.g., those mentioning suicidal thoughts or behaviors). RallyPoint members whose posts are flagged will randomly be assigned to the intervention group or the control group.

Behavioral: Treatment as usual; Behavioral: Barrier Reduction Intervention

Interventions

Treatment as usual BEHAVIORAL

Treatment-as-usual will follow the existing RallyPoint procedures for concerning posts on the site. In the current procedures, a RallyPoint staff member sends a supportive message to the member containing resource information on the Veteran's Crisis line, 911, and connecting with a therapist. This information is typically sent within 24 hrs of seeing a concerning post. Participants in both the control and intervention conditions will receive treatment-as-usual.

Control; Intervention

Barrier Reduction Intervention BEHAVIORAL

After a post is identified in real-time by the risk algorithm, participants will be shown a pop-up message offering information on mental health resources (e.g., crisis line). Participants will be asked about their likelihood of using these resources. For participants who indicate they are not likely to use these resources, they will then be presented with a list of common barriers to help-seeking, drawing from research in this area (e.g., "Treatment is too expensive" or "I'm concerned about the police or paramedics getting involved."). Participants will be asked to click on any reason that resonates with them. When they click on a particular reason, they will then be presented with psychoeducational information to allay their concerns and encourage professional help-seeking.

Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Active RallyPoint users who had at least one post flagged by a machine learning risk algorithm for containing concerning language (e.g., descriptions of suicidal thoughts or behaviors).

You may not qualify if:

• Active RallyPoint users who have not had any posts flagged by a machine learning risk algorithm.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Harvard University: lead

Study Sites (1)

RallyPoint Networks, Inc

Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Suicide

Interventions

Therapeutics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 30, 2023
• First Posted: November 2, 2023
• Study Start: November 20, 2023
• Primary Completion: March 14, 2025
• Study Completion: March 14, 2025
• Last Updated: August 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)