Going Digital in Suicide Prevention

Healthy Conversations

We’re re-releasing a special two-part episode about innovations in suicide prevention in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In this second episode, Dr. Seth Feuerstein, the CEO of Oui Therapeutics, talks about his company’s digital therapeutics aimed at reducing suicide – which he calls “the only leading cause of death without any prescription products.” He speaks with our host, Dr. Daniel Kraft, about using software as a medical device and explains the road to FDA approval for his company’s products. Dr. Feuerstein describes their digital therapeutic as “a multidimensional interactive experience” that typically lasts 10 to 12 weeks under the direction of a clinician. “You might work with a chatbot function, you might interact with other patients, you might work on practicing exercises to refine the way you brain might react to certain situations,” he says. Studies about its effectiveness have been promising.

Cara McNulty, President of Behavioral Health and Mental Well-being at CVS Health®, introduces this episode by looking at the many tools and programs available to help reduce suicide, including those listed below.

Suicide prevention resources

• CVS Health mental health resources
• Oui Therapeutics
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Mental Health First Aid
• The Trevor Project
• The Jed Foundation