Citation

Cliffe B, Moore E, Whittle K, Stallard P. BMJ Open 2024; 14(4): e069862.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069862

PMID

38663920

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many university students self-harm but few receive support. Smartphone apps have been identified as acceptable sources of support for students who self-harm, but the use of supportive self-harm apps is yet to be explored in this population.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to explore the acceptability and safety of a specific app (BlueIce) for university students who self-harm.

METHODS: This was an exploratory, mixed methods study with 15 university students attending university well-being services with self-harming thoughts and/or behaviours. BlueIce was offered alongside the face-to-face support provided by the well-being service. Self-harming thoughts and behaviours, coping self-efficacy, and symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured before and after using BlueIce for 6 weeks. Follow-up interviews were also undertaken to explore how students perceived BlueIce in more depth.

RESULTS: Following app use, there were statistically significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety (baseline M 12.47, SD 4.42; follow-up M 10, SD 4.16) t(14)=2.26, p=0.040, d=0.58 and depression (baseline M 16.5, SD 5.17, follow-up M 12.27, SD 3.66) t(13)=5.50, p<0.001, d=1.47. Qualitative findings showed participants found BlueIce to be acceptable, safe and helpful, and reported that they were more able to cope with difficult feelings and better understand their self-harm triggers following use of the app.

CONCLUSION: BlueIce was an acceptable, safe and helpful source of support for university students struggling with self-harm thoughts and/or behaviours. This builds on previous findings with adolescents and suggests that BlueIce could be a particularly acceptable and helpful resource for university students.

Language: en

Keywords

*Anxiety; *Depression; *Mobile Applications; *Self-Injurious Behavior/psychology; *Smartphone; *Students/psychology; Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Male; mental health; Self Efficacy; suicide & self-harm; telemedicine; Universities; Young Adult