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Sep 10, 2021
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According to the Suicide Forum, there are 1.2 million internet searches for suicide methods and ways to take your own life every month. This year’s international theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is about “Creating Hope Through Action” and R;pple is looking to do just that – launching a new browser extension in the U.K. that prompts an automatic pop-up when users search for information on self-harm or suicide.
R;pple is the brainchild of Alice Hendy, who in 2020 lost her brother Josh to suicide when he was just 21. Free to download and available now, R;pple provides support and resources for people suffering with mental health.
The pop-up comprises a message of hope and signposts to a range of free support resources such as helplines, text services and webchats that are available 24/7 from mental health charities.
Jacobs is proud to support R;pple, and our free mental health check-in tool, One Millions Lives, is available through the new web browser pop-up and via www.ripplesuicideprevention.com.
Explaining R;pple’s concept, which relates to her own lived experience, Alice said: “It's called R;pple because, on average, 135 people are impacted every time somebody takes their own life. The ripple-effect is extensive, as my family and Josh’s wider circle know only too well.
“After examining Josh’s phone and laptop, I found that Josh had been researching techniques to take his own life via internet searches, suicide forums and video tutorials. Limited content is available for those experiencing a mental health crisis and searching for harmful content online. To improve this, R;pple provides people with a voice, choice, empowerment and control at a time when they are most vulnerable.
“I want to help ensure individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and searching for self-harmful content online are offered hope and options for support when they need it.”
The R;pple tool has already been taken up by high-profile organizations including Universities U.K. and Network Rail as a means of providing staff and students with mental health signposting, should they need it.
R;pple is available to download now as an extension for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, with Firefox, Opera and Safari expected to follow soon.
While the tool is initially launching the U.K., R;pple has already had interest from the U.S., Australia, Netherlands and Japan. The tool would work in the same way but redirect users to their local mental health support charities relevant to their location. Alice is working to ensure R;pple becomes a global intervention tool which saves people’s lives on a daily basis.
For more information about R;pple, contact Alice Hendy at info@ripplesuicideprevention.com or visit www.ripplesuicideprevention.com. Instruction videos on how to download the tool are also here: https://www.ripplesuicideprevention.com/install.
For more about Jacobs’ One Million Lives, you can take the check-in here or visit www.oml.com for more information. Developed in collaboration with global mental health professionals, One Million Lives is a free mental health check-in tool to enhance users' understanding of their current state of mind and provide proactive strategies for personal mental health development. By regularly completing a check-in, via the web-based app, users will ideally be better equipped to understand how they are currently coping, assess the early indicators of associated mental health challenges, start positive and active conversations and get support much earlier.