18.02.14
Samaritans research to improve suicide policy
A new research programme will seek to evaluate the role the internet plays for those with suicidal thoughts, through a partnership of Samaritans and Bristol University, funded by the Department of Health Policy Research Programme
People at risk of suicide can be heavily influenced by online content, but the internet can provide a space to find support as well. The researchers aim to provide evidence-based advice on suicide prevention, including help to develop good practice guidelines, better regulation and policy.
The programme, which will run until March 2016, could also help to develop online support and to help clinicians in supporting patients.
Joe Ferns, executive director of policy, research & development at Samaritans said: “This is a crucial piece of research. Until now politicians, journalists and campaigners have been debating in a vacuum, with insufficient hard evidence to support or refute their views. The findings of this project will be turned into practical actions, helping us understand how to best support our callers in the future. They will also inform the debate both here in the UK and around the world.”
Dr Lucy Biddle, School of Social and Community Medicine at Bristol University said: “The internet poses considerable challenges for suicide prevention. It provides readily accessible information that may increase the risk of suicide and allows an immediate exchange of unregulated user-generated content through social media and chatrooms.
“Regulating and policing this is extremely challenging. A more effective approach may be to try to understand why and where people go online so that we can direct our efforts at supporting vulnerable web-users and working with the industry. As part of this we should recognise and capitalise upon the great potential the Internet has to reach out to and help those in need. This essential research is long overdue.”
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