Title: Development and evaluation of an avatar-guided mobile health intervention for emerging adults with alcohol misuse and suicidality (EA-Avatar)
Dates: 9/2023-8/2026
Funder: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Grant #R00AA29154
Funding: $747,000.00
PI: Lourah Kelly, PhD
Description: Emerging adults have higher rates of binge drinking, thoughts of suicide, and suicide attempts than any other age group, but very low use of substance use treatment. The R00 phase of this project pilots refines, and evaluates a novel mobile health intervention guided by an avatar for emerging adults who binge drink and experience thoughts of suicide.
The intervention is implemented within the emergency department as a key point of healthcare service entry. Because emerging adults prefer mobile health and self-guided interventions and such technology is widely accessible, the proposed mobile health intervention could offer significant public health benefits in reducing alcohol use problems and suicidal thoughts in emerging adults.
This newly funded R00 is part of a phased K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award which supports Dr. Kelly’s transition from postdoctoral fellow to independent research scientist, through training, mentorship, and a pilot research project.
Learn More
Voices Podcast: Research explores avatar therapy for alcohol use disorder, suicide prevention
By Hayley Mignacca and Bryan Goodchild, January 2, 2025
In a new Voices of UMass Chan podcast, Lourah Kelly, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry, discusses her research on a digital health intervention using an avatar to help young adults with alcohol use problems and suicidal thoughts.
Adults ages 18 to 25 consistently report the highest rates of co-occurring alcohol use disorder and suicidal thoughts, Dr. Kelly said. Young adults do not often access professional behavioral health treatments for these issues. Emergency departments, where they often end up, are an access point for offering interventions such as the avatar-guided intervention.
Kelly is leading the second phase of a usability trial in the emergency department for individuals ages 18 to 28 with indicators of suicide risk. Developed during her postdoctoral fellowship at UConn School of Medicine, the intervention features a customizable avatar and digital cognitive therapy designed to reduce drinking and suicidal thoughts. Participants engage with the mobile health intervention and provide feedback through surveys. This was made possible by a Pathway to Independence Award funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Listen to the podcast
Mobile health intervention study for binge drinking, suicide risk among young adults to start at UMass Chan
By Pat Sargent, January 22, 2024
A pilot project evaluating the benefits of a mobile health intervention tool for young adults who visit the emergency department and who binge drink and experience thoughts of suicide will launch at UMass Chan Medical School in early 2024. Continue reading the article
Can Avatars Help Young Adults Manage Alcohol Use Problems & Suicidal Thoughts?
S.T.A.Y. Tuned Podcast Episode 14
Can a mobile intervention using avatars help young adults manage their mental health after being discharged from the emergency department? Dr. Lourah Kelly’s “Avatar Project” explores this possibility. Watch/listen to the podcast
