# Developing a Digital Intervention for Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-injury

> **NIH NIH K01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $175,258

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) affects an estimated 17% of adolescents worldwide. Earlier onset in
adolescence is linked to more severe trajectories of NSSI, suicide plans, and poorer quality of life. Though
early intervention for NSSI is critical, most adolescents with NSSI do not seek professional help, and many do
not self-disclose their behaviors to anyone in person, limiting access to support and preventing pathways to
treatment. While several psychological interventions have been effective in reducing adolescent NSSI,
structural barriers (e.g., time, cost), attitudinal barriers (e.g., stigma, mental health literacy), and the prevalence
of non-disclosure constrain their accessibility and reach. Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) present an
opportunity to reach this high-risk and non-treatment-engaged population and increase their access to
evidence-based psychological strategies. Indeed, adolescents report receptivity to digital interventions and
engage in NSSI help-seeking online at high rates. However, to date there are no publicly available DMHIs
designed to support this adolescent population. In collaboration with Mental Health America (MHA), the
nation's largest mental health advocacy organization, the proposed K01 application will address this gap by
designing and evaluating a DMHI attuned to the unique needs and preferences of adolescents (14-17 years)
who engage in NSSI. This project will leverage a moment of online information-seeking through MHA's
website, to deliver a low-intensity DMHI focused on acquisition and practice of evidence-based skills to
improve self-regulation and deliver help-seeking information, to ultimately reduce NSSI frequency and
encourage future treatment engagement. Partnering with MHA to deliver the DMHI provides a clear
dissemination pathway and access to a diverse group of adolescents who are not in treatment. To design the
DMHI, I will employ user-centered design activities, which involve key stakeholders in the research and design
process to ensure adolescents' needs and preferences are reflected in the final DMHI. I will also engage MHA
stakeholders in the development of a strategic implementation and dissemination plan through their website. I
will then pilot a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the DMHI with 80 adolescents (14-17 years of age)
randomized on a 1:1 basis to receive the DMHI (n=40) or an active psychoeducational control (n=40) for the
duration of 8 weeks. This K01 will be a critical first step in positioning me to achieve my career goal and
become a leading independent researcher in digital mental health. My four training aims are designed to
support this overarching goal by extending my expertise in: 1) UCD and summative methods including usability
testing for DMHIs and support further development of expertise in 2) the conduct of clinical trials, 3) scalable
implementation methodologies, and 4) treatment models for adolescent NSSI. Accomplishment of...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10890152
- **Project number:** 5K01MH131898-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kaylee Payne Kruzan
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $175,258
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10890152

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10890152, Developing a Digital Intervention for Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-injury (5K01MH131898-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10890152. Licensed CC0.

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