Implementation of Mobile Health Intervention Targeting Belongingness and Burdensomeness: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study of Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors in LGBTQ+ Individuals

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2026 Oct;56(5):e70138. doi: 10.1111/sltb.70138.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this paper was to test a mobile health intervention designed to reduce self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in LGBTQ+ individuals. The intervention consisted of brief messages aimed at increasing feelings of belongingness and meaning.

METHOD: We recruited LGBTQ+ individuals (N = 55) with past-month self-injurious thoughts and/or behaviors. Participants completed 14 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of minority stress, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Then, participants were randomly assigned to receive brief messages designed to instill belongingness and meaning/purpose, or no intervention for 14 days. Then, participants completed an additional 14 days of EMA.

RESULTS: Our results showed that participants in the control condition had significant increases in self-injurious thoughts and planning over time, whereas those in the intervention condition showed no significant change. For self-injurious behavior, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness, there were significant decreases in the intervention condition, but no changes in the control condition.

CONCLUSIONS: These results provide support for the interpersonal theory of suicide and indicate a potentially scalable mobile health intervention.

PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE: This paper found evidence that a brief mobile health intervention reduced suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious thoughts and behaviors among LGBTQ+ individuals.

PMID:42698200 | DOI:10.1111/sltb.70138