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Cliffe B, Moore E, Whittle K, Stallard P. Is a smartphone application (BlueIce) acceptable and safe for university students who self-harm: an open study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e069862. [PMID: 38663920 PMCID: PMC11043752 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many university students self-harm but few receive support. Smartphone apps have been identified as acceptable sources of support for students who self-harm, but the use of supportive self-harm apps is yet to be explored in this population. OBJECTIVE This study sought to explore the acceptability and safety of a specific app (BlueIce) for university students who self-harm. METHODS This was an exploratory, mixed methods study with 15 university students attending university well-being services with self-harming thoughts and/or behaviours. BlueIce was offered alongside the face-to-face support provided by the well-being service. Self-harming thoughts and behaviours, coping self-efficacy, and symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured before and after using BlueIce for 6 weeks. Follow-up interviews were also undertaken to explore how students perceived BlueIce in more depth. RESULTS Following app use, there were statistically significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety (baseline M 12.47, SD 4.42; follow-up M 10, SD 4.16) t(14)=2.26, p=0.040, d=0.58 and depression (baseline M 16.5, SD 5.17, follow-up M 12.27, SD 3.66) t(13)=5.50, p<0.001, d=1.47. Qualitative findings showed participants found BlueIce to be acceptable, safe and helpful, and reported that they were more able to cope with difficult feelings and better understand their self-harm triggers following use of the app. CONCLUSION BlueIce was an acceptable, safe and helpful source of support for university students struggling with self-harm thoughts and/or behaviours. This builds on previous findings with adolescents and suggests that BlueIce could be a particularly acceptable and helpful resource for university students.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Moore
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Oxford Health NHS Mental Health Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Kathryn Whittle
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Oxford Health NHS Mental Health Trust, Bristol, UK
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Harmanci D, Edelman N, Richardson D, Lunt A, Llewellyn C. How are young people's mental health related to their sexual health and substance use? A systematic review of UK literature. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2023; 35:131-158. [PMID: 36636992 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2022-0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The transition from childhood to adulthood is complex and presents challenges to young people's mental health. Mental health impacts and is impacted by a range of contextual and personal factors. Adolescence and young adulthood also coincide with increased experimentation with sex, sexuality and substance use. Addressing the mental health, sexual health and substance-use challenges experienced by young people therefore necessitates an understanding of how these elements relate to one another. By collecting and analysing existing literature, this review aims to identify associations between young people's mental health and sexual health, their mental health and substance use and any resulting gaps-in-knowledge. CONTENT Seven electronic databases were searched between March and May 2021 and updated in May 2022 with terms collated under the categories of "young people", "mental health", "sexual health" and "substance use". English-language articles, presenting data from the UK & Ireland, on young people aged 16-24 years inclusive were screened and subjected to a selection process in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (preregistered on PROSPERO, ref. number CRD42021245096). The quality of the resulting articles were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and findings were tabulated through a data extraction process. SUMMARY 27 articles were included in the review. Various mental health indices such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, psychotic-like experiences, hypomanic symptoms and binge-purge type eating disorders were found to be associated with higher use of substances such as alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy and generalised drug use. Additionally, mental health indices such as depression, anxiety and self-harm were found to be associated with sex before age 16 and/or unprotected sex at age 16, positive Chlamydia infection and higher levels of sexual activity at a younger age. Overall, cross-sectional associations were stronger than the longitudinal associations presented in the articles. OUTLOOK This review into the specific relations between young people's mental health, sexual health and substance use has revealed the complex and bi-directional nature of these associations, with some conditions and substances having been more extensively investigated (e.g., alcohol and depression/anxiety) as opposed to the relations between young people's sexual health and mental health which is lacking in the UK and Irish context. The findings can help inform mental health related policies and service provisions targeted at young people in the UK and Ireland. Areas for future work are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damla Harmanci
- Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, UK
| | - Natalie Edelman
- Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, UK.,School of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Brighton, Falmer, Brighton, UK
| | - Daniel Richardson
- Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, UK.,University Hospitals Sussex NHS foundation Trust, Brighton, UK
| | - Alexandria Lunt
- Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, UK
| | - Carrie Llewellyn
- Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, UK
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Wiley ER, Stranges S, Gilliland JA, Anderson KK, Seabrook JA. Residential greenness and substance use among youth and young adults: Associations with alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113124. [PMID: 35339465 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research has identified positive associations between green space and physical and mental health outcomes. Substance use outcomes, however, have received considerably less attention. This study investigates the association between residential greenness and substance use through an analysis of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among youth and young adults. METHODS This study utilized three waves (2016-2018) of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), as well as residential greenness data from the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Consortium (CANUE). Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore variation in the pattern of substance use between greenness quartiles. The sample included 14,070 youth and young adults (15-25 years). RESULTS Residential greenness was not associated with alcohol use in general but was associated with lower odds of frequent binge drinking. Residential greenness was also associated with lower odds of tobacco use and greater odds of marijuana use. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that residential greenness is associated with patterns of substance use. The strength and direction of association, however, is highly contingent upon the substance under investigation. Living in greener neighborhoods may confer certain benefits to substance use and abuse among youth and young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan R Wiley
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Saverio Stranges
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Jason A Gilliland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; School of Health Studies, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kelly K Anderson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jamie A Seabrook
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, London, Ontario, Canada.
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Cliffe B, Moore E, Whittle K, Stallard P. The acceptability, safety, and effects of a smartphone application for university students who self-harm: an open study (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2022. [DOI: 10.2196/40492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Cliffe B, Stokes Z, Stallard P. The Acceptability of a Smartphone App (BlueIce) for University Students Who Self-harm. Arch Suicide Res 2022; 27:565-581. [PMID: 34983335 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2021.2022552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
University students are twice as likely to self-harm than community controls but, unfortunately, help-seeking among this population is particularly low. Given the stigma around self-harm, the face-to-face nature of traditional support for self-harm can be a barrier to help-seeking. Smartphone applications (apps) are a possible alternative source of support, and research has shown that students are receptive to this option. This study sought to assess the acceptability of a smartphone app called BlueIce for university students who self-harm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 students with a history of self-harm. A qualitative content analysis was undertaken and five categories were identified: the content of BlueIce, the use of BlueIce with university students, the function of BlueIce, comparison with other support, and the implementation and uptake of BlueIce. Responses to BlueIce were very positive with students believing BlueIce to be a helpful resource that was perceived as more accessible than alternative support. Participants believed it could provide help in moments of distress as well as helping individuals learn longer-term coping skills. Others felt that BlueIce would not be adequate for some people and would be better used alongside other face-to-face support. Overall, it was clear that BlueIce was acceptable to the students in this study. Future research should seek to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of BlueIce within a university setting with students. HIGHLIGHTSStudents who self-harm found the BlueIce app to be an acceptable and appealing source of support for self-harm as well as other mental health difficulties.Participants felt that the app was more accessible than other forms of support, particularly for individuals who prefer not to discuss self-harm with a professional.Some felt that BlueIce could provide immediate support in moments of distress, while others believed it to be a longer-term solution that could help students learn more adaptive coping strategies.
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