Unit Suicide Research & Mental Health Promotion, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Suicide prevention plans support individuals with personal experience of mental disorders and suicidality to provide their narratives of coping in the media. The evidence how such portrayals impact on individuals with similar symptoms is limited and there are concerns about unwanted side effects.
METHODS: This was a double-blinded randomized controlled online trial conducted from August to November 2018. N = 158 young adults aged 18-24 with current depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts were randomized to watch a short film featuring a young individual with personal experience of depression and suicidality (n = 81), or a thematically unrelated control film (n = 77) with similar stylistic elements. Questionnaire data were collected before and immediately after exposure and analysed with ANOVA. The primary outcome was suicidal ideation; secondary outcomes were depressed mood and help-seeking intentions. We also tested the moderating effects of the degree of depressive symptoms on the effects.
RESULTS: Depressed mood was significantly lower, with small-to medium effect size, in the intervention group compared to the control group (F(1,111) = 4.13, P < .05, ηp2 = .036). There was no effect on suicidal ideation or help-seeking intentions in the total sample. Participants screening positive for moderately severe depression or higher experienced an increase in suicidal ideation in the control group. LIMITATIONS: Self-reported variables in an online setting.
CONCLUSIONS: Videos featuring personal experience of coping with depression appear safe for young individuals with similar or higher symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation on the short run, and might have some benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trial Registry, DRKS00015095 (registration date: 2018-07-16).