Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month
This blog post contains content related to suicide and may be distressing for some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please seek support from mental health professionals or reach out to a crisis hotline.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 720 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide Prevention Month, observed annually in September, aims to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health. September 10 marks World Suicide Prevention Day, a global initiative launched by the International Association for Suicide Prevention with the support of the WHO to draw attention to the critical issue of suicide. The core message of this day is clear: suicide is preventable, and by fostering understanding, enabling dialogue, and providing the right resources, we can save lives.
At JMIR Publications, we believe that research publishers have a unique responsibility to amplify this crucial message. By disseminating high-quality, evidence-based research, we can help break down barriers to seeking help, highlight the effectiveness of mental health interventions, and showcase the role of digital tools and technology in expanding access to care. In this vein, we would like to feature a selection of recently published papers in JMIR Mental Health, under our theme “Depression and Mood Disorders; Suicide Prevention”. We will highlight some key findings that showcase important advances in suicide care and examine additional steps needed to better support individuals at risk.
Suicide prevention in the era of digital health
Given its accessibility and anonymity, the internet is often the first resource used by individuals seeking information on sensitive topics. There is evidence showing that while many individuals searching for suicide prevention helplines have severe suicidal thoughts, only a small number go on to contact the helpline via phone or chat. To address this critical issue, researchers tested whether a brief Barrier Reduction Intervention (BRI) could motivate individuals having suicidal thoughts to contact a helpline (via phone or chat). In this intervention, the individuals were asked to indicate the barrier preventing them from contacting the helpline. Based on the identified barriers, the mobile application sent a tailored message encouraging them to make contact with the helpline.
The findings of this study were recently published in JMIR Mental Health. The study found that the most commonly reported barrier preventing the participants from contacting the helpline was “I don’t think that my problems are serious enough”. Although the BRI did not have an immediate effect to ensure that those respondents would use the direct link to the helpline at the end of the study, the intervention seems promising. Participants who received a tailored text indicated that they were more likely to contact the helpline at a later point in time compared to those who did not receive the intervention.
One of the core components of suicide prevention is safety planning, which is a personalized, step-by-step plan that helps individuals stay safe during times of crisis. It includes identifying warning signs, coping strategies, sources of support (family, friends, health care providers), and ways to make the environment safer, like removing access to harmful items. A recent systematic review published in JMIR Mental Health showed that although only a few studies have investigated whether safety planning intervention through mobile applications can aid suicide prevention, preliminary findings have shown positive shifts in attitudes and desire to live, improved coping strategies, enhanced ability to regulate emotions, and a decrease in suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors. Importantly, users often found these apps easy-to-use and visually appealing, which indicates that the apps were engaging and user-friendly. The findings about the effectiveness of the mobile apps are still preliminary and they need to be validated in larger studies, however, the initial evidence is promising.
Suicide Prevention: final remarks and future directions
We are grateful for our distinguished authors, reviewers and readers for helping us in our effort to contribute to the global conversation around mental health. Our responsibility, however, extends beyond simply sharing findings; we need to actively highlight voices that advocate for mental health awareness, promote open dialogue, and encourage innovative solutions.
If the contents of this blog post affect you, please see the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) or contact an appropriate organization in your country.
