Online help for people with suicidal thoughts provided by charities and healthcare organisations: a qualitative study of users' perceptions

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Lucy BiddleDavid Gunnell

Abstract

Internet use is common among people with suicidal feelings and a considerable amount of suicide help material is available online. Despite attempts to promote formal help sites (e.g. governmental and charity sector) in internet search results, users' evaluation of these sites is lacking. This study, therefore, aimed to explore distressed users' perceptions of formal online help and their experiences of using this in times of crisis. In-depth interview study of 53 adults reporting suicide-related internet use. While highly valued in relation to general mental health problems, formal sites were not perceived to meet the different needs of those experiencing suicidal thoughts, and did not engage individuals in crisis. Sites were criticised for being impersonal, dispassionate, too focused on information-giving, and lacking solutions that were novel or sensitive to reasons why an individual may choose to seek help online. Most participants criticised the tendency for sites to signpost to offline services as their primary response. Participants desired immediacy and responsive online help incorporating 'live chat', self-help tools, opportunities to interact with others and lived-experience content. Positive accounts of seeking online...Continue Reading

References

Aug 30, 2003·Psychological Medicine·Keith Hawton, Julia Sinclair
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Sep 3, 2010·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·Thomas NiederkrotenthalerGernot Sonneck
Mar 10, 2012·American Journal of Public Health·David D LuxtonJonathan M Fairall
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Aug 15, 2012·Suicide & Life-threatening Behavior·Lisa Michelmore, Peter Hindley
Jan 30, 2014·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Mee Huong LaiArun V Ravindran
Feb 24, 2015·Early Intervention in Psychiatry·Jo RobinsonHelen Herrman
Feb 24, 2015·Archives of Suicide Research : Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·Mareka Frost, Leanne Casey
Mar 2, 2016·Journal of Clinical Psychology·Amy-Lee Seward, Keith M Harris
Apr 26, 2016·Suicide & Life-threatening Behavior·Louise ThorntonAmanda Baker
May 28, 2016·Crisis·Katherine MokJane Pirkis
Jun 8, 2017·Archives of Suicide Research : Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·Jo BellJane Pirkis
Jun 1, 2018·Crisis·Prianka PadmanathanDavid Gunnell

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