ArticleJMIR formative research2021
User Engagement and Usability of Suicide Prevention Apps: Systematic Search in App Stores and Content Analysis.
Article in JMIR formative research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 48 citations in OpenAlex.
- Application of Natural Language Processing (NLP) in Detecting and Preventing Suicide Ideation: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Article
- Development and Pilot Testing of the Mobile Application to Prevent Suicide (MAPS).Cognitive therapy and research · 2025Article
- Usability and Implementation Considerations of Fitbit and App Intervention for Diverse Cancer Survivors: Mixed Methods Study.JMIR cancer · 2025Article
- Evaluating the Quality, Content Accuracy, and User Suitability of mHealth Prenatal Care Apps for Expectant Mothers: Critical Assessment Study.Asian/Pacific Island nursing journal · 2025Article
- Help-Seeking Needs Related to Suicide Prevention for Individuals in Contact With Mental Health Services: A Rapid Scoping Review.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing · 2025Article
- Eliciting Preferences for the Uptake of Smoking Cessation Apps: Discrete Choice Experiment.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Characteristics of suicide prevention apps: a content analysis of apps available in Canada and the UK.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Beyond the interface: benchmarking pediatric mobile health applications for monitoring child growth using the Mobile App Rating Scale.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- Automated Real-Time Tool for Promoting Crisis Resource Use for Suicide Risk (ResourceBot): Development and Usability Study.JMIR mental health · 2024Article
- Assessment of Eye Care Apps for Children and Adolescents Based on the Mobile App Rating Scale: Content Analysis and Quality Assessment.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Article
- Digital Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults Experiencing Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors.Current treatment options in psychiatry · 2024Article
- Digital Mental Health for Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Illnesses: An International Consensus on Current Challenges and Potential Solutions.JMIR mental health · 2024Article
- A Scoping Review of Digital-Based Intervention for Reducing Risk of Suicide Among Adults.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2024Article
- Development of the Mobile Application to Prevent Suicide (MAPS), a Personalized Smartphone App for Suicide Prevention: Feedback from Individual Interviews.Journal of technology in human services · 2024Article
- Characterizing Consumer Smartphone Apps for Virtual Reality-Based Exposure Therapy: Content Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- Clinical Considerations for Digital Resources in Care for Patients With Suicidal Ideation.Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing) · 2023Article
- A randomized 3-month, parallel-group, controlled trial of CALMA m-health app as an adjunct to therapy to reduce suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors in adolescents: study protocol.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
- The Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Monitoring and Management of Suicide Crisis: A Systematic Review of the Literature.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Review
- Multipurpose Mobile Apps for Mental Health in Chinese App Stores: Content Analysis and Quality Evaluation.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 7 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPeople with suicidal thoughts are more inclined to seek technology-delivered interventions than in-person forms of treatment, making mobile apps for suicide prevention an ideal platform for treatment delivery. This review examines apps designed for suicide prevention, with a specific focus on user engagement.
objectiveThis study aims to update the literature and broadly evaluate the landscape of mobile health apps for suicide prevention; examine apps with key features and primary approaches to suicide prevention; and systematically evaluate the engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information of the apps.
methodsAll apps related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors were identified in the Google Play and iOS app stores and were systematically reviewed for their content and quality. The mobile app rating scale (MARS) was used to evaluate app usability and engagement.
resultsOf the 66 apps identified, 42 (64%) were specifically designed for people with suicidal ideation, and 59 (89%) had at least one best practice feature for suicide risk reduction. The mean overall MARS score of all apps was 3.5 (range 2.1-4.5), with 83% (55/66) of apps having a minimum acceptability score of 3. The total MARS score was not associated with the user app rating (r=-0.001; P=.99) or the number of features (r=0.24; P=.09).
conclusionsThis study identified many usable and engaging apps in app stores designed for suicide prevention. However, there are only limited apps for clinicians. Thus, mobile apps for suicide prevention should be carefully developed and clinically evaluated.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.