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Preliminary Trial of an Avatar Guided Digital Intervention for Emerging Adults

Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial of an Avatar Guided Intervention for Young Adults Seen in the Emergency Department With Alcohol Use Problems and Suicidal Thoughts

Who can join

Ages 18 to 29 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* (1) emergency department admission for alcohol- or suicide-related reason since turning 18, OR treated for incidental suicide risk in the emergency department
* (2) aged 18-29
* (3) speak, read, and understand English
* (4) binge drinking in the past month OR alcohol use problems (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score \> 5)
* (5) active suicidal ideation in the past month
* (6) owning and having access to a personal smartphone
* (7) willingness to be randomized to an avatar guided intervention for alcohol use problems and suicidal thoughts OR a freely available suicide safety planning app
* (8) for remote MyChart-based recruitment only, have MyChart activated

Exclusion Criteria:

* (1) severe cognitive delay, active psychosis, or heavy intoxication that precludes research participation
* (2) imminent safety risk and have been recently unsafe to themselves or others
* (3) prisoner or are under arrest
* (4) not interested or not willing to be randomized to receive the avatar-guided digital intervention or safety plan app
* (5) under the care of a legal guardian

About the study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a novel digital avatar (virtual coach) support program can help emerging adults ages 18-29 who present to the emergency department with suicidal thoughts and alcohol misuse (EA-Avatar). The study also aims to learn whether people find the program easy to use and whether daily surveys and the study design are able to be completed by the majority of emerging adult participants.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* Do participants use the digital program and find it helpful? * Is it possible for participants to complete daily surveys for twenty-eight days and follow-up surveys over twelve weeks? * Are there early signs that the program may help lower alcohol use and suicidal thoughts?

Researchers will compare participants who receive the new digital avatar program plus supportive text messages to participants who receive a freely available suicide safety planning app to see if there are differences in use, engagement, and early signs of benefit.

Participants will:

* Receive standard care from the emergency department * Be randomly put into one of two groups (EA-Avatar or a free suicide prevention app) * Depending on their group, use a new avatar-guided digital support program with text message reminders OR use a free suicide safety planning app * Complete surveys at the start of the study and again at four, eight, and twelve weeks * Complete short daily surveys for twenty-eight days

What is being tested

• EA-Avatar (behavioral)
• Suicide safety planning app (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester · Participants: 60 · Started: Jun 10, 2026

Contact the study team

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07418047

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Binge Drinking
• Suicide

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.