A socially assistive robot to support mental wellbeing in LGBTQ+ young people at risk of self-harm: a randomized controlled trial

Nature Medicine, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04422-6

A randomized controlled trial integrating Purrble, a socially assistive tactile robot, into safety planning found that LGBTQ+ youth at risk of self-harm experienced improvements in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and fewer depressive symptoms compared to safety planning alone.

Source: www.nature.com