Developing a Safety Planning Smartphone App to Support Adolescents’ Self-Management During Emotional Crises

Tamara Großmann (), Jana Hörger, Nadine Bayer, Sophie Bückle, Daniel Buschek, Jörg M. Fegert, Peter Laurenz, Matthias Lühr, Franziska Marek, Miriam Rassenhofer and Nathalie Oexle
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Tamara Großmann: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Jana Hörger: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Nadine Bayer: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Sophie Bückle: German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Ulm, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Daniel Buschek: Department of Computer Science, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
Jörg M. Fegert: German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Ulm, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Peter Laurenz: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Matthias Lühr: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Franziska Marek: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Miriam Rassenhofer: German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Ulm, 89073 Ulm, Germany
Nathalie Oexle: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, 89073 Ulm, Germany

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents, highlighting the need for effective suicide prevention strategies. Safety planning is a best-practice intervention that has recently shifted toward smartphone-based formats. This study explored stakeholder perspectives (adolescents, parents, practitioners) and described the development of an age-tailored app. A qualitative study was conducted in Germany (2023–2024) with focus groups involving adolescents ( n = 7), parents ( n = 4), and practitioners ( n = 4). Adolescents (14–21 years) were eligible if they had received inpatient treatment, experienced suicidal thoughts within the past 24 months, and had prior experience with safety planning. Parents and practitioners had experience or expertise with suicidality among adolescents. Data were analyzed using Kuckartz’s qualitative content analysis. App development was based, among other things, on insights from focus groups and pertinent theories. Stakeholders expressed differing needs regarding app content, settings, and adjustability. The developed emira-app includes an interactive safety plan to support users in self-managing emotional crises, along with additional features (e.g., digital HopeBox and diary) to promote integration into users’ daily routines. This multi-component safety planning app was specifically developed for adolescents, and its participatory development process allowed an intensive exploration of key stakeholders’ perspectives.

Keywords: suicidal ideation; adolescent; suicide prevention; safety planning; adolescent psychiatry; self-management; mobile applications; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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