Effects of Community-based Caring Contact on Post-discharge Young Adults With Self-harm

Effects of Community-based Caring Contact on Post-discharge Young Adults With Self-harm - a Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial

The study will determine whether community-based caring contact via a mobile app connection with or without volunteer support in addition to treatment as usual (psychiatric and psychosocial treatments) has an effect on suicidal ideation and treatment compliance among post-discharge self-harm young adults.

The proposed study will determine whether community-based caring contact via a mobile app connection with or without volunteer support in addition to treatment as usual (TAU; psychiatric and psychosocial treatments) is effective in reducing suicidal ideation, enhancing treatment compliance, reducing thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness and hopelessness among post-discharge self-harm young adults, and if personalized contact by volunteers has additional effects reducing suicidal ideation among post-discharge self-harm individuals.

108 participants aged 18-45 with an index self-harm episode will be recruited from the Accident & Emergency Department (AED) of 4 local public hospitals, and randomized into the TAU, mobile app group with, and without volunteer support. Each participant will complete a questionnaire at the 4 measurement time points at baseline (T0), one-month (T1) and the end of the 2-month intervention period (T2), and post-intervention at the three-month point (T3) from the baseline. The primary outcomes include Suicidal ideation, hopelessness, thwarted belongingness & perceived burdensomeness, treatment (TAU) compliance, and suicidality.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with an index episode of self-poisoning or self-injury with or without suicide intent, based on the ICD-10 codes for self-harm with and without suicide intent (i.e., X60 to X84 and R45.8)
• Admission to the AEDs at the 4 collaborating public hospitals in Hong Kong (United Christian Hospital, North District Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, and Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital)
• Mentally well assessed by a psychiatrist or Consultation Liaison Nurses (CLNs)
• Capable of providing written Informed Consent Form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with DSM-IV-TR Axis II disorder; or
• Individuals with severe psychotic mental illness or bipolar disorder