Development of a Digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Suicide Prevention in Adults Through Co-design

Suicide is a major public health concern and there is a need for accessible and scalable interventions to support individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts. The aim of this study is to develop a digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for suicide prevention in Chinese adults through co-design. The study will involve literature review, interviews, and co-design activities to identify user needs, preferences, and contextual factors, and to develop the intervention. Following intervention development, a pilot study will be conducted to evaluate the feasibility, usability, acceptability, and user engagement of the intervention. Findings from this study will inform further refinement of the intervention and future evaluation studies.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Suicide; Suicide Prevention; Co-design
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Digital ACT Intervention

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Tao Zhang; Phone Number: +85294233827; Email: tao-t.zhang@connect.polyu.hk

Study Locations

• China
  • Hong Kong, China
    • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    • Contact: Bryant Hui; Phone Number: +85227667744

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

• Inclusion Criteria Lived experience participants

  1. Aged 18 years or older;
  2. Have experienced suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors;
  3. Able to read and communicate in Chinese; Professionals
  1. Aged 18 years or older;
  2. Professionals with experience relevant to suicide prevention, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), digital mental health, or related fields;

• Exclusion Criteria

  1. Unable to provide informed consent or participate in study activities;
  2. Currently experiencing acute suicide risk requiring immediate intervention;
  3. Severe cognitive impairment or active psychotic symptoms that would prevent participation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Digital ACT Intervention; The Digital ACT Intervention will be co-designed with stakeholders and informed by co-design activities. The intervention aims to support adults experiencing suicidal thoughts through a digital platform.	Behavioral: Digital ACT Intervention; A co-designed digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for suicide prevention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Intervention completion rate	The intervention completion rate will be assessed as the percentage of participants who complete the digital intervention, based on intervention usage records.	End of the intervention (approximately 2 weeks)
Retention rate	The participant retention rate will be assessed as the percentage of participants who complete the post-intervention assessment and the follow-up assessment.	End of the 1-month follow-up
Acceptability outcome	Acceptability of the intervention will be assessed using participant-reported ratings and feedback regarding satisfaction and overall experience with the intervention.	End of the intervention (approximately 2 weeks)
Usability outcome	Usability will be assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS), a 10-item self-report questionnaire. Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better usability of the intervention.	End of the intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Suicide ideation	Suicidal ideation will be assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). Each item is rated on a 3-point scale ranging from 0 to 2, with higher scores indicating greater suicidal ideation.	Baseline, end of the 2-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Psychological flexibility and inflexibility	Psychological flexibility and inflexibility will be assessed using the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory-24 (MPFI-24). Each item is rated on a 6-point scale ranging from 1 to 6. Higher scores on the flexibility and inflexibility subscales indicate greater psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility, respectively.	Baseline, end of the 2-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Psychological Distress	Psychological distress will be assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). Each item is rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating greater psychological distress.	Baseline, end of the 2-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up
Mental well-being	Mental well-being will be assessed using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). Each item is rated on a 6-point scale ranging from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater mental well-being.	Baseline, end of the 2-week intervention, and 1-month follow-up

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Qualitative Feedback and Design Recommendations	Qualitative feedback related to user needs, preferences, barriers, facilitators, cultural considerations, and recommendations for intervention refinement will be identified from co-design activities and feedback sessions.	Through study completion, an average of 6 months
Cultural Relevance	Cultural relevance of the intervention will be assessed through participant feedback regarding the appropriateness, relevance, and cultural fit of the intervention content and delivery.	Through study completion, an average of 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Tao Zhang, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 9, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavior; Suicide Prevention; Suicide
• Other Study ID Numbers: HSEARS20260122008-1

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No