Mindfulness for Reducing Everyday Suicidal Thoughts (Mind-REST): A Daily Mindfulness Intervention for Adults with Suicidal Ideation.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a significant public health concern; therefore, it is essential to develop interventions that effectively target suicidality and can be easily implemented with high-risk populations. This pilot randomized controlled trial investigated the feasibility and acceptability of a brief, daily, text-based mindfulness intervention (Mind-REST) targeting suicidality, as compared with a sham mindfulness control condition. A secondary aim was to examine potential differences in suicidal ideation within and between groups over the course of the study. METHODS: Participants included 82 adults with recent suicidal ideation or behaviors who completed 14 days of mindfulness or sham-mindfulness exercises, along with a daily diary survey each evening. Participants also completed a post-intervention survey and a one-month follow-up survey. RESULTS: Mind-REST was shown to be feasible and acceptable, as evidenced by high study completion and intervention compliance rates (88% and 89%, respectively) and positive participant feedback. There were greater reductions in suicidal ideation severity for participants in the Mind-REST condition compared with the control condition across post-intervention and follow-up, but not on a daily level. CONCLUSIONS: Mind-REST demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in reducing suicidal ideation; however, a larger trial is needed to fully examine the efficacy of the intervention.