Evaluation of a telephone app (BlueIce) for young people who self-harm
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A preliminary evaluation of an innovative telephone app (BlueIce) for young people who self-harm.
IRAS ID
192099
Contact name
Paul Stallard
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Why: Self-harm amongst young adolescents is common with up to 20% self-harming at some stage during adolescence. In addition to the immediate physical harm, self-harm is associated with poor mental health and increased risk of suicide.
What: We will evaluate the acceptability, safety, use and effect of a self-management app, BlueIce, with young people who regularly self-harm. BlueIce has been co-produced with young people who have self-harmed and is designed as an adjunct to therapy. BlueIce includes a mood monitoring diary and a personalised self-help menu of mood lifting activities including music and photo libraries, physical activities, mood changing activities, audio-taped relaxation and mindfulness exercises, identification and challenging negative thoughts and distress tolerance activities. Techniques are personalised according to the young person’s interests. BlueIce records mood and mood lifting usage/helpfulness. After use, young people are asked to re-rate their mood and are routed to emergency numbers if still feeling an urge to self-harm.Who: BlueIce will be offered to 50 young people (aged 12-17) who are regularly self-harming and attending specialist child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) outpatient clinics.
Where: Specialist CAMHS outpatient clinics provided by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust located across Bath and North East Somerset, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Swindon and Wiltshire.How: This project will assess the acceptability, safety, use and effect of BlueIce to determine whether it should be more widely used within specialist CAMHS. We will undertake interviews with young people (n=50) to determine acceptability, use & safety. App data and clinical records will be examined to determine BlueIce use during times of crisis. Pre and post changes in self-harming, anxiety and mood will be assessed to determine the effect on psychological functioning.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0018
Date of REC Opinion
7 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion