Online and Social Media Suicide Prevention Interventions for Young People: A Focus on Implementation and Moderation.
OBJECTIVE
Suicide remains a major global public health issue for young people. The reach and accessibility of online and social media-based interventions herald a unique opportunity for suicide prevention. To date, the large body of research into suicide prevention has been undertaken atheoretically. This paper provides a rationale and theoretical framework (based on the interpersonal theory of suicide), and draws on our experiences of developing and testing online and social media-based interventions.


METHODS
The implementation of three distinct online and social media-based intervention studies, undertaken with young people at risk of suicide, are discussed. We highlight the ways that these interventions can serve to bolster social connectedness in young people, and outline key aspects of intervention implementation and moderation.


RESULTS
Insights regarding the implementation of these studies include careful protocol development mindful of risk and ethical issues, establishment of suitably qualified teams to oversee development and delivery of the intervention, and utilisation of key aspects of human support (i.e., moderation) to encourage longer-term intervention engagement.


CONCLUSIONS
Online and social media-based interventions provide an opportunity to enhance feelings of connectedness in young people, a key component of the interpersonal theory of suicide. Our experience has shown that such interventions can be feasibly and safely conducted with young people at risk of suicide. Further studies, with controlled designs, are required to demonstrate intervention efficacy.
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health; Centre for Youth Mental Health; The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Youth Mood Clinic, Orygen Youth Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Simon
S
Rice
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health; Centre for Youth Mental Health; The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Jo
J
Robinson
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health; Centre for Youth Mental Health; The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Sarah
S
Bendall
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health; Centre for Youth Mental Health; The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Sarah
S
Hetrick
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health; Centre for Youth Mental Health; The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Georgina
G
Cox
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health; Centre for Youth Mental Health; The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Eleanor
E
Bailey
School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.
John
J
Gleeson
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health; Centre for Youth Mental Health; The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Mario
M
Alvarez-Jimenez
early intervention; online intervention; social media; suicide prevention; youth mental health