ArticleJMIR formative research2023
Acceptability and Feasibility of "Village," a Digital Communication App for Young People Experiencing Low Mood, Thoughts of Self-harm, and Suicidal Ideation to Obtain Support From Family and Friends: Mixed Methods Pilot Open Trial.
Article in JMIR formative research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Mobile applications in adolescent psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.Frontiers in public health · 2024Pooled it
- Factors Associated with Self-Harm Attempts Among Female Adolescents with Self-Reported Reclusive Tendencies in Republic of Korea.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Evaluating Co-Designed vs Researcher-Driven Personalized Feedback Formats in a Brief Digital Alcohol Use Intervention: Mixed Methods Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Digital Mental Health Interventions for Young People Aged 16-25 Years: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Facilitators and Barriers to Digital Mental Health Interventions for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Adolescents and Young Adults: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Clinicians Perspectives on Effective Suicide Prevention in Secondary Care Adult Mental Health Services: An Appreciative Inquiry Approach.International journal of mental health nursing · 2025Article
- Participatory development and proof-of-concept of a dyadic-based, AI-driven, just-in-time adaptive intervention mechanism for preventing anxiety and depressive disorders via app: study protocol for a feasibility study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Article
- Investigating the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriation of a Socially Assistive Robot Among Minority Youth at Risk of Self-Harm: Results of 2 Mixed Methods Pilot Studies.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundYoung people experiencing low mood, thoughts related to self-harm, and suicidal ideation often struggle to communicate their emotions and receive timely support from family and friends. Technologically delivered support interventions may be useful in addressing this need.
objectiveThis paper aimed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of "Village," a communication app co-designed with young people and their family and friends from New Zealand.
methodsA mixed methods pilot open trial design was adopted. Participants were primarily recruited via social media advertisements and clinicians in specialist mental health services over an 8-month period. The primary outcomes were acceptability of the app (via thematically analyzed qualitative feedback and retention rates) and feasibility of conducting a larger randomized controlled trial gauged via effectiveness of recruitment methods, completion of chosen outcome measures, and occurrence of unanticipated operational issues. Secondary outcomes were app usability, safety, and changes in symptoms of depression (via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 modified for adolescents), suicidal ideation (on the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire), and functioning (using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 or Child and Youth version).
resultsA total of 26 young people ("users") were enrolled in the trial, of which 21 recruited friends and family members ("buddies") and completed quantitative outcome measures at baseline, 4 weeks, and 3 months. Furthermore, 13 users and 12 buddies also provided qualitative feedback about the app, identifying the key themes of appeal of app features and layout, usefulness of its content, and technological challenges (primarily with onboarding and notifications). Users gave Village a mean rating of 3.8 (range 2.7-4.6) out of 5 on a 5-point scale for app quality and an overall star rating of 3.4 out of 5 for subjective quality. Within this limited sample, users reported a clinically significant reduction in depressive symptoms (P=.007), but nonsignificant changes in suicidal ideation and functioning. The embedded risk detection software was activated on 3 occasions, and no additional support was required for users.
conclusionsDuring this open trial, Village was found to be acceptable, usable, and safe. The feasibility of a larger randomized controlled trial was also confirmed after some modifications to the recruitment strategy and app.
trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Network Registry ACTRN12620000241932p; https://tinyurl.com/ya6t4fx2.
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