The crisis intervention program uses social media to reduce suicide risk

An Oregon-based program that monitors social media use may have deterred more than 150 youth suicide attempts in its five years of existence, reports a new study published online in the journal. Psychiatric services.

Staff with Lines for lifea nonprofit organization that operates mental health support services, and researchers from Oregon Health & Science University collaborated to closely document the interventions of the Safe Social Spaces program, launched in 2019 by Lines for Life.

The study’s senior author said it’s an example of meeting people where they are.

“Community involvement is critical,” says Alan Teo, MD, MS, associate professor of psychiatry at the OHSU School of Medicine. “Health care systems often wait for patients to come to the clinic or hospital, but if you wait for patients to come to you, there are many people in need who will be missed.”

Whatever its role in driving the mental health crisis affecting young people, the new study suggests, social media can be used as a unique tool in detecting disturbing messages for those who pay attention.

In this case, trained staff from the Safe Social Spaces intervention program contacted more than 3,000 young people who openly shared their experiences with emotional problems on social media. The program estimates that 163 cases of self-harm, including suicide attempts, have been avoided to date through supportive dialogue.

Teo acknowledged the irony of using social media to achieve a positive mental health outcome.

“Social media experiences can be stressful, but what I like about this program is that it illustrates a way to use online forums for good,” Teo said. “It’s clearly not as black and white as saying social media is bad or that screen time is just bad. We know that young people spend time there and, as with all technologies, the most important thing is how you use it.”