Last year, a fifth of high school students had seriously considered suicide, and 1 in 11 teenagers had attempted suicide.
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September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, and this year teenagers should be at the top of our minds. Suicide is the leading cause of death for teens ages 10-14 and the third leading cause of death for teens ages 15-24 in the United States (after accidents and homicide). Last year, a fifth of high school students had seriously considered suicide and 1 in 11 teenagers had attempted suicide. These numbers are surprising and unacceptable.
To really make a dent in the teen mental health crisis, there is a need to recognize that technology must be an important part of the solution. Like it or not, technology is a fundamental part of the experience of today’s teenagers. Teenagers have come to expect the immediacy and convenience of searching for something on their phones and getting tons of quick and instant responses within seconds. Not surprisingly, teenagers often seek mental health information on the Internet and social media. Unlike previous generations, they are less likely to gravitate toward traditional physical services like therapy, especially when digital mental health resources are available.
Apps can help teenagers with their mental health.
Supporting teenagers’ preferred ways of communicating can help them better.
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Supporting teenagers’ preferred ways of communicating can help them better. Currently, research shows the promise of digital support to reach and help young people who are suffering. In the year A 2021 randomized clinical trial showed how short, digitally delivered skills-based videos helped prevent mental health deterioration in students. Behavioral therapy that uses mindfulness, acceptance, and emotion regulation has been delivered to students via video, and researchers believe this brief, highly scalable intervention could extend the reach of mental health treatment. Another 2021 clinical trial in Washington and an app I worked on with my colleagues at HopeLab showed that an app designed to help lonely teenagers transitioning to college helped prevent loneliness and depression in the first semester.
Research in this area is growing rapidly. In the year A 2017 review of 15 different mental health mobile apps for adolescents found only two small clinical trials and none showed an effect on the intended outcome. A few years later, a 2021 review found 11 clinical trials showing improvement in several outcomes, most commonly depression and stress. And a 2022 review and meta-analysis found 80 studies describing mobile interventions that demonstrated effectiveness on outcomes such as general well-being and anxiety and psychotic symptoms.
Live support adds an additional benefit
Adding a live human element to a digital intervention can provide additional benefits, especially for teenagers.
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Adding a live human element to a digital intervention can provide additional benefits, especially for teenagers. In a study of what teens want in digital interventions that support mental health, focus groups with teens revealed that they prefer mobile health coaching and online peer-to-peer interactions with a professional moderator for support. In the year In a 2019 study conducted in my lab at UC San Francisco, we looked at how live coaching support can increase the effectiveness of a digital intervention for adolescents on smoking cessation. More than automated content delivery, connecting with a live counselor helped smokers achieve improved smoking cessation outcomes.
Peer-to-peer coaching is another effective way to deliver evidence-based skills. According to a UCLA research study, trained peer coaching, when delivered well and consistently online, can reduce the burden of mental illness that a licensed medical professional (such as a psychologist or psychiatrist) does not. The right support combination, accessible to all teenagers, provides both a digital platform that’s comfortable and inviting, and a live human element for those who need or want an extra level of support.
Wait, isn’t technology part of the problem?
Technology is often blamed for youth mental health crises. I fully believe there are ways technology can be harmful to young people. Some teenagers overuse technology and what they find when they look for support can make things worse. That’s why it’s important to know the safe and helpful tools that teens can use when they’re struggling.
This World Suicide Prevention Day, let’s help teenagers in whatever way they want and need.
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This World Suicide Prevention Day, let’s make sure we share with the teenagers we know who are struggling, and pledge to help them in any way they need and need.
If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts, get help right away. For help 24/7, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text the crisis text line TALK to 741741. Visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory to find a therapist near you.
A version of this post also appears on the BeMe Health blog.
