Looking Forward: A Special Issue of the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science Focused on Suicide and Suicide Prevention
摘要
The rate of suicide among the general population of the United States has steadily increased during the 21st century. Despite this increase, many suicide prevention interventions and strategies remain unchanged from those used at the turn of the century. Efforts to integrate technology into mental health have often focused on digitizing existing interventions, that is, providing extant, traditional interventions by leveraging a digital format or medium. However, technology offers possibilities beyond digitization. It has transformed many areas of modern life and may do the same in the behavioral sciences. However, caution is warranted as statistically rare outcomes, such as suicide, are challenging to investigate with the usual toolkit of clinical research. While it is enticing to draw causal inferences or point out promising interventions when lives are on the line, there is genuine risk in doing so prematurely. This editorial introduces a special issue of the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science dedicated to examining the intersection of these technological advances with suicide prevention. Comprised of 15 contributions, including original research, literature reviews, brief communications, and commentaries, this issue is organized thematically around the trajectory of a suicidal crisis: from risk identification and prevention, through intervention and long-term management. The series of articles included very much embody a look forward at how technology can support, improve, and advance our understanding of suicide as well as our ability to intervene and prevent death by suicide.