SWiM App Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Preventing suicide in mental health settings in the UK and US: exploring feasibility and proof of concept of an innovative mobile app - Strength Within Me (SWiM)
IRAS ID
214244
Contact name
Alina Haines
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Mersey Care Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Suicide is a global concern, with yearly death rates higher than those caused by war, homicide and natural disasters combined. In the UK, suicide rates are raising and are the leading cause of death amongst men under the age of 50. The intergenerational, social and economic consequences of suicide are substantial, and new innovative ways to prevent suicide are needed.
The Strength Within Me (SWiM) is a phone application which uses advanced computer technologies to identify risk. We want to test this technology in real settings, in Mersey Care NHS: firstly, to see if it is accepted by service users and whether they engage with it (Phase 1 - feasibility study); secondly, if Phase 1 is successful, to assess whether it works in identifying risk, by testing the app against known valid risk assessment methods used in clinical settings(Phase 2 – proof of concept study).
We aim to recruit 50 male and female adult service users for Phase 1 and 106 for Phase 2. Service users who give written informed consent will be invited to download and use the SWiM App by completing features included in the app, e.g. journaling, safety plan, and mood monitoring. If they agree to it, additional methods will be used to monitor their sleep patterns and social media/Facebook use. In addition to using the app, participants will be invited to a meeting with one of the study researchers for the completion of 3 paper questionnaires about suicide thoughts and ideation, depression and sleep problems. Participants will attend 3 such meetings following admission, at 3, and 6 days intervals (or at discharge) and will be offered a gift card worth £18 on each occasion.The study will adhere to the NHS Code of Confidentiality and Data Protection Act 1998; no personal data will be disclosed outside the research team without consent.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0173
Date of REC Opinion
24 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion