Acceptability, feasibility, and usability of a self-directed digital therapeutic to prevent suicidal ideation and behaviors in an integrated military healthcare system
摘要
Persistently elevated suicide risk among U.S. service members, coupled with reliance on primary care clinics as a key point of contact for psychosocial concerns in an integrated healthcare delivery system, underscores the need for scalable approaches for suicide prevention. One solution to help fill this need is through digital mental health interventions. However, engagement with self-directed digital mental health tools is consistently low and further compounded by high average attrition rates and low overall treatment adherence, with most falling well below 50%. The current study explored the acceptability, usability, feasibility, and safety of Aviva, a scalable self-directed digital treatment add-on for suicide prevention in an integrated military healthcare system. Overall, results indicate Aviva as a feasible, acceptable, and usable scalable alternative for suicide prevention, with engagement, adherence and persistence rates comparable to treatment as usual, and easily exceeding observed national averages with similar digital apps. No major safety concerns were identified during implementation.