Technology helps save

lives in suicide prevention

Angela Mason: Lifeline Australia

Date: 17 October 2014

Lifeline

From the beginning, committed tocrisis support and suicide prevention

Always used technology to deliver our service

Demand for 13 11 14 increased by some37% from FY12 to FY14.

Important to be innovative to achieve our vision

Technology has a particular place insuicide prevention

Why technology?

• Ease of use, privacy, choice.

• Aligns to help seeking preferences.

• Fundamental to how we connect.

• FY13, 83% of persons were internet users(ABS: 2014).

• 64.1% of young people not comfortable using telephone hotline for advice, support or information(Mission Australia Youth Survey: 2013).

Online Crisis Support Chat

• Attracts suicidal people (50% of contacts).

• 45% had thoughts of suicide on the day they contacted.

• Post chat, level of “upsetness” drops for majority(only 9% of help seekers remain highly upset).

• Service is providing crisis intervention effectively.

Online Crisis Support Chat

• One third of contacts would not seek help from other services.

• 53% unaware of any other online services.

• Without Chat, many people would not seek help.

• FY14, 32,000 chats answered – 26,000 in FY13.

• 86.6% of help seekers between 15 and 44 years of age - highest risk age group for suicide in Australia.

Messages of thanks

I never dreamed I would ever need to call lifeline

but here I am. Very professional and compassionate

Thank you so much, I have been thinking about using the service for a week or so, and finally did tonight. It helped more than I imagined it would. Thank you so much

I guess i just couldn’t bare to be alone in all this and you gave me someone to listen and

to care that didn’t judge. You got me

through another night. Thank you

really helpful counsellor, thank god for people like you who are helping make people’s lives better. huge thanks

National website: lifeline.org.au

• FY14, over 670,000 users.

• Over 2,800,000 pages viewed.

• ‘Get Help’ section viewed over 815,000 times.

National website: Service finder

Jul - Sep 13 Oct - Dec 13 Jan - Mar 14 Apr - Jun 14

Number of visits to Service Finder Website

8,156 7,349 8,924 10,381

Total Number of Records

67,141 70,471 73,441 78,089

Percentage of Records Updated

22% 14% 13% 14%

Mobile website: lifeline.org.au

Social media – unintended usesNB: Lifeline does not provide crisis support via social media or email – these avenues are not monitored 24/7.

Social media growth

FY12 FY13 FY140

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Facebook fansVideo views on YouTubeTwitter followers

Google partnership

• Search for suicide related term, prompt to call Lifeline.

• Helps suicidal people access support.

Facebook - www.facebook.com/help/suicideprevention

Conclusion

• Potential to use technology to connect AND show a caring response.

• Technology providing services that are:• Immediate• Available• Relevant

• Lifeline can see the difference technology can make.

For further information:Angela Mason

Media and Communication ManagerLifeline Australia

02 6215 9433 / 0408 407 376angela.mason@lifeline.org.au