Effects of the Are you OK? LINE OA application on depression and suicidal behaviors in patients with prior suicide attempts and depression at Phayao Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64838/jmht.2025.274723Keywords:
application, counseling, depression, suicide attemptAbstract
Objective: The study aimed to examine the effects of the Are you OK? application delivered via the LINE OA on depression severity, suicide attempts, and completed suicides in patients with depression and a history of suicide attempts.
Methods: A retrospective quasi-experimental study was conducted using the medical records of patients with depression who presented with suicide attempts and received treatment at Phayao Hospital between August 2023 and June 2024. The experimental group received standard psychiatric care with additional support through the Are you OK? LINE program, including symptom monitoring, counseling, and motivational messaging. The control group consisted of patients who received standard care prior to the implementation of the application. Outcomes included depression scores measured using the 9-item questionnaire (9Q), number of suicide attempts, and incidence of completed suicides. These outcomes were assessed at baseline (first admission), three months, and 6 months post-admission. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Friedman tests, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.
Results: Data from 30 patients were analyzed, with 15 patients in each group. Baseline characteristics and depression scores did not differ significantly between groups. The experimental group showed a statistically significant reduction in depression scores at both three- and six-month follow-ups compared to baseline. Additionally, the experimental group had significantly lower depression scores than the control group at the three-month follow-up. During the study period, three patients in the control group reattempted suicide, whereas no reattempts occurred in the experimental group. No completed suicides were reported in either group throughout the follow-up period.
Conclusion: The addition of the Are you OK? application to standard care shows promise in reducing depressive symptoms and preventing suicide reattempts in patients with depression. Further evaluation across diverse settings is recommended to assess its effectiveness and feasibility for broader implementation in mental health services.
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