The role of mobile phone technology in understanding and preventing suicidal behavior

Suicidal behavior is the result of a complex interaction of psychiatric, psychological, social, and cultural factors (Hawton & van Heeringen, 2009; O’Connor & Nock, 2014; O’Connor, Platt, & Gordon, 2011b). Despite considerable epidemiological advances in the identification of risk factors, explanations (as distinct from risk factors) for why suicide occurs in some cases but not in others are limited. In addition, the factors that predict the transition from suicidal thoughts to suicidal behavior are poorly understood and the evidence for which treatments are effective in reducing suicide risk is also scant. In this editorial, we discuss how mobile phone technology has the potential to move the field forward in terms of understanding suicide risk as well as laying foundations for the development of effective treatments/interventions. We have focused on mobile health technology given the rapid growth of mobile health approaches in suicide prevention (De Jaegere & Portzky, 2014; Mishara & Kerkhof, 2013) and psychological research more generally (Myin-Germeys et al., 2009; Nock, Prinstein, & Sterba, 2009; Palmier-Claus et al., 2011) and because mobile phone use is ubiquitous, with 75% of the world having access to a mobile phone (Kay, 2011).