title: Can an Internet-based intervention reduce suicidal ideation, depression and hopelessness among secondary school students: results from a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little evidence exists regarding the efficacy of suicide prevention programmes among the youth. This pilot study aimed to test the effects of a specifically designed, eight-module Internet-based programme on suicidal ideation among secondary school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a pre-test/post-test design. Outcomes of interest were suicidal ideation, depression and hopelessness. Participants were recruited via the school well-being team, were assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention. The intervention was delivered weekly at the young persons' school.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one students completed all eight modules and a post-intervention assessment, and constitute the observed case sample used for the analysis. Overall levels of suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms and hopelessness decreased significantly over the course of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a small pilot study with no control group. However, significant reductions were seen in suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms and hopelessness, indicating that Internet-based interventions may hold promise when it comes to reducing suicide risk among youth. Further investigation is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2532-0142
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hetrick
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bendall
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Hok Pan
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.|Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yung
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pirkis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Internet; adolescents; cognitive behavioural therapy; school; suicidal ideation