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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07211373

Advancing Student Suicide Interventions With Scalable Technologies

Mobile-based applications, such as JasprHealth, can deliver evidence-based skills intended to reduce imminent suicide risk (e.g., reducing means access), improve emotional states (e.g., via distraction and coaching to act opposite to emotions), and reduce feelings of social isolation (e.g., via shared stories), but user engagement is a barrier. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a technological application resource (Jaspr) relative to human augmentation (Jaspr+, e.g., motivationally focused orientation plus prompts) on acceptability, preliminary effectiveness, and engagement among college students who screen positive for suicide risk.

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Key information

Conditions

Suicidal Ideation Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Personal Satisfaction Psychological Well-Being Self-Harm Self-Injurious Behavior Suicide Suicide Attempt Suicide Prevention Suicide, Attempted

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts, 01002, United States

About this study

Mobile-based applications, such as Jaspr Health, can deliver evidence-based skills intended to reduce imminent suicide risk (e.g., reducing means access), improve emotional states (e.g., via distraction and coaching to act opposite to emotions), and reduce feelings of social isolation (e.g., via shared stories). Although mobile-device-delivered interventions hold the potential to make interventions widely accessible, user engagement presents a substantial barrier to efficacy. This study, ASSIST: Advancing Student Suicide Interventions with Scalable Technologies, aims to improve engagement with mobile-delivered suicide prevention applications, with the ultimate goal of reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in college students. Including human elements alongside Jaspr Health has the potential to improve the uptake of this evidence-based, accessible mobile-device-delivered intervention.

The aim of this study was is to examine the effects of the technological application resource Jaspr tablet application with access to Jaspr at Home (JAH) vs. Jaspr+ human augmentation (e.g., motivationally focused orientation plus prompts) on acceptability, preliminary effectiveness, and engagement among 50 college students who screen positive for suicide risk (n=25 per condition) over the course of 2 months. Candidate mechanisms (e.g., coping skills, self-stigma) will also be assessed. Participants were randomized via the Redcap randomization module, stratified by site.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Recent suicidal thoughts or behavior (i.e., past 2-week suicidal ideation or past 6-month suicidal behaviors)
  • Current UMass Amherst or University of Wisconsin Madison undergraduate student
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Ability to understand written or spoken English
  • Owning a mobile device
  • Ability to understand and consent to study procedures

Exclusion criteria

  • No recent suicidal thoughts or behaviors (i.e., past 2-week suicidal ideation or past 6-month suicidal behaviors)
  • Not a current UMass Amherst or University of Wisconsin Madison undergraduate student
  • Under 18 years of age
  • Inability to understand written or spoken English
  • Does not own a mobile device

Treatment and study plan

Jaspr

Device

With assistance from a research staff, the subject will complete self-administered suicide risk assessment on the tablet via Jaspr app, then the subject will engage with suicide-related coping skills and resources that the app provides. Subjects will continue to have access to the coping skills and videos via a mobile app.

Behavioral support

Behavioral

Jaspr conversations will be augmented human-driven behavioral support. Conversations will be guided by motivational interviewing principles. Subjects can sign up to receive JAH mobile app.

Subjects will be prompted with their personalized goals as reminders to use the Jaspr app.

Primary outcomes

  1. Suicidal ideation

    Time frame: weeks 0, 4, 8

    Assessed with Suicide Ideation Questionnaire [SIQ], with higher scores reflecting greater past month suicidal ideation.

  2. Suicidal behaviors

    Time frame: weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8

    Assessed with the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale [C-SSRS] self-report screen past week (y = presence /n)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Suicide-related coping

    Time frame: weeks 0, 4, 8

    Assessed with the suicide-related coping scale, [SRCS] with higher scores reflecting a better ability to cope with suicidal thoughts

  2. Ways of coping

    Time frame: weeks 0, 4, 8

    Assessed with the DBT-Ways of Coping Checklist (DBT-WCCL), which yields scales of skills use, general dysfunctional coping, and blaming others, with mean scores of 0-3, with higher levels indicating greater use of those strategies.

  3. Suicide stigma

    Time frame: weeks 0, 4, 8

    Assessed with the personal suicide stigma questionnaire [PSSQ], with higher scores reflecting greater stigma.

  4. Self-reported engagement

    Time frame: weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8

    Assessed with item developed for this study, with higher scores reflecting greater engagement in the app.

  5. Acceptability

    Time frame: weeks 0, 4, 8

    Assessed with the Acceptability of Implementation Measure [AIM], with higher scores reflecting whether the intervention is liked, welcomed, or approved.

  6. Satisfaction with Intervention

    Time frame: weeks 0, 4, 8

    Assessed with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire - 8 [CSQ8], with higher scores reflecting greater satisfaction with the intervention.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • University of Massachusetts, Worcester
  • University of Wisconsin, Madison

Registry information

Official study title

Advancing Student Suicide Interventions With Scalable Technologies (ASSIST)

Acronym: ASSIST

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Oct 8, 2025
Registry last updated
Oct 20, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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