A randomized controlled trial of a trauma-informed smartphone application in reducing firefighters’ mental health symptoms

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The study evaluated the effectiveness of the SOLAR-m app in reducing mental health symptoms among firefighters.
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SOLAR-m showed a significant reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms at 8 weeks compared to a control app.
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At 3 months, only depression symptoms showed a significant difference between the SOLAR-m and control groups.
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The trial involved 163 firefighters who were randomized to receive either the SOLAR-m app or a mood monitoring app.
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The SOLAR program targets subclinical symptoms, aiming for early intervention in high-risk professions like firefighting.

Npj Digital Medicine

by Tracey Varker, Olivia Metcalf, Yee Foong Mok, Karen E. Lamb, Julia Fredrickson, Hussain-Abdulah Arjmand, Phoebe Howlett, Kari Gibson, Le Pham, Kate Everett, Meaghan Louise O’Donnell
November 24, 2025

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