Effectiveness of Mobile Applications for Suicide Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mobile applications are increasingly used for suicide prevention; however, their effectiveness remains unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of mobile applications for suicide prevention and investigated potential moderators influencing intervention outcomes. Following the PRISMA guidelines, four databases (ProQuest, PubMed, Cochrane Central, and IEEE) were systematically searched for studies published from January 2020 to February 2025. This review was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD420251029046). Twenty-two studies were included, comprising 47 effect sizes derived from 6556 participants (3623 in the intervention and 2933 in the control groups). Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 (RCTs) and ROBINS-I (NRSs). Effect sizes were synthesized using random-effects meta-analysis with heterogeneity and publication bias evaluated. The overall post-intervention effect size was small to moderate (g = 0.39), with sustained but smaller effects observed at follow-up (g = 0.15). Moderator analyses indicated stronger effects for universal interventions targeting adults, weekly interventions, 12-week programs, and those implemented in efficacy settings. The findings should be interpreted with caution because of substantial heterogeneity. Nevertheless, the effects were statistically significant and provided evidence for the utility of mobile applications in suicide prevention, underscoring the need for further research to refine intervention design and delivery.