Development and Testing of imHere4U: A Digital Suicide Prevention Intervention for Cyberbullied Adolescents
Who can join
Ages 12 to 17 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * English-speaking * access to a phone or device capable of text messaging * past 3-month history of cyberbullying assessed by the cybervictimization subscale of the Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization and Perpetration Scale and/or presence of online discrimination measured by a modified version of a discrimination measured developed as part of the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study * past 3-month history of suicidal risk, including: psychological distress (\>13 on the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) and/or suicidal ideation or behavior (via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale) Exclusion Criteria: * intellectual challenges, low literacy levels, or other conditions that might inhibit adolescents' ability to effectively engage with Flourish (reported by parents and, if needed, confirmed through the age-appropriate Wechsler Intelligence scale) * acuity levels suggesting need for a higher level of care (e.g., inpatient hospitalization) or referral for emergency services
About the study
The objective of this study is to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of Flourish (formerly referred to as imHere4U), a digital suicide prevention intervention for cyberbullied adolescents.
The specific aims are to:
Aim #1: Conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing Flourish+Questionnaires vs. Questionnaires Alone among cyberbullied youth at-risk for suicide ages 12-17 (N=80, \>35% underserved youth).
H2a. Primary outcome: Feasibility will be evidenced by recruitment/retention rates \> 80% and imHere4U engagement \> 70%.
H2b. Secondary outcomes: Youth assigned to Flourish+Questionnaires will report improved problem-solving capacity, distress tolerance, and motivation and reduced distress and suicidal ideation than youth assigned to Questionnaires Alone over the 6-month follow-up period.
Exploratory Aim: Examine the feasibility of delivering feedback on online interactions from machine learning algorithms. All youth assigned to Flourish may optionally provide their social media data to receive feedback from machine learning algorithms. H3a. Feedback from algorithms will have high acceptability (identified via qualitative themes and \>70% acceptance rates) and usability, defined by mean scores on Post-Study System and Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) \> 6.
What is being tested
- Flourish (behavioral)
- Questionnaires of Online Experiences (behavioral)
Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh · Participants: 80 · Started: Nov 21, 2023
Contact the study team
- Candice L Biernesser, PhD · Phone: 412-586-9064
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06002191
Locations in the U.S.
| Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.