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OnlineSuicidePrevention:APro-activeStrategyforGovernmentandtheInternetIndustry
ByTheRt.HonGrantShappsMPJanuary2018
OnlineSuicidePrevention
APro-activeStrategyforGovernmentandtheInternetIndustry
1
“Samaritanswelcomesthisreport,whichincludesanumberofimportantrecommendations.WehopethattheGovernmentandtechnologycompaniestakenoticeofitandworktoensurethatfewerpeoplediebysuicideasaresult.”
Barnardo'sChiefExecutive,JavedKhansaid:
“WewelcomethisreportbecausewhiletheGovernment’sGreenPaperonchildren’smentalhealthisastepintherightdirection,itlacksthenecessaryvisionandresourcesforatrulyjoinedupsystemofpreventionandsupport–bothonlineandoffline.
“WeknowfromourworkwiththeUK'smostvulnerablechildrenaboutthepositiveandnegativeimpacttheinternetcanhaveontheirlives.Itisdeeplyconcerningthatmaterialwhicheffectivelypromotessuicideissoeasilyaccessibleonline.
“GrantShappsiscorrectthatmuchmoreneedstobedonetoprotectchildrenfromsuchshockingmaterial.It’svitaltheGovernmentworkscloselywithmentalhealthcharities,internetcompaniesandcontentcreatorstoworkoutwhenandhowrestrictingsuchitemsisappropriateandnecessary.
“Insteadoffacilitatingaccesstosuchsites,internetfirmsshouldbeencouragedtocreatesignpostsontheirwebpageswithhelplinenumbersforthosewhoappearparticularlyvulnerable.”
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APro-activeStrategyforGovernmentandtheInternetIndustry
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"Wetakeourdutytoensurethatourplatformisusedresponsiblyandnottocauseharm,veryseriously.Mentalhealthcanbeacomplexissue;andsowepartnerandlearnfromleadingexpertsinthisareasuchastheTheSamaritans.Wearegratefulfortheinsightofthereportandlookforwardtocontinuingtoworkwithawiderangeoforganisationsonprotectingpeople'smentalhealth."KatieO'Donovan,UKPublicPolicyManager
"Thistimelyreportmakesclearhowthereismoretodoacrossgovernment,industryandwithinsocietytopreventsuicideandsupportpeoplewhomaybeindistress.ThisisanissuewearecommittedtoandwewillshortlybefurtherimprovingthewayTwitterhelpspeoplefindexperthelp."NickPickles,headofUKpublicpolicyforTwitter.
Itissoimportantthatwecontinuetoworktogethersothatinternetserviceproviders,socialmediaplatforms,contenteditors,legislators,organisations,familiesandcommunitiesandyoungpeoplethemselveseffectivelyplaytheirpartinpreventingyoungsuicides.PAPYRUShopesthattodayreigniteseveryone’sinterestincreatinganevermoresuicidesafeinternet.
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APro-activeStrategyforGovernmentandtheInternetIndustry
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PrefaceforOnlineSuicidePreventionReport
ThisreporthasbeencompiledfollowingacomprehensiveCallforEvidenceandanOnlineSuicidePreventionSummit,whichwasheldinParliamenton10thMay2016.Thesummitbroughttogetherrepresentativesfromsearchengines,internetserviceproviders,socialmediasitesandsuicidepreventioncharitiestodiscusswhatmorecanbedoneononlinesuicideprevention.
CharitiesandorganisationshavebeeninvolvedintheworkofthisreportincludeGoogle,NSPCC,Samaritans,VirginMedia,Papyrus,BT,Twitter,Facebook,ActionforChildrenandmanymore.
ThereportincludesrecommendationsforGovernmentonwhatactionwebelieveshouldbetakennowtoaddressthisgrowingproblem,suchaslaunchingamoredetailedpublichealthstrategyononlinesuicideprevention,andenforcingexistingguidelinesontheavailabilityofsuicide-relatedcontent.
Thereportalsoincludesrecommendationsfortheinternetindustry,suchasensuringtherearesignpoststohelplinesandsupportsitesandcurbingtheauto-completefunctionsofsearchengineswhensuicide-relatedtermsaresearchedfor,aswellasregularlygettingthesectortogethertofindmorewaysofassistinginonlinesuicideprevention.
WeconcludethatmoreneedstobedonebyGovernmentandtheinternetindustryintheirapproachtotacklingonlinesuicide.Governmenthasanimportantroletoplayinproducingamoredetailedandspecificstrategytodealwiththisproblem,andinternetserviceproviders,searchenginesandsocialmediasitescandomoretoensurethattheinternetisasourceofsupportandguidanceforpeoplewhoarevulnerable.
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ExecutiveSummaryAlotofimportantworkisbeingdoneandhasbeendoneintacklingmentalhealthandinpreventingsuicide.Weareontherighttracktochangingattitudesandresponsesinthisarea.However,wherethereiscurrentlyagapiswithregardtothelackofpro-activepolicy.Thisisclearforexampleinthecurrentgovernment’sapproachtoonlinesuicideprevention.Inaddition,therestillremainsmuchmorethattheinternetindustry*candoasawhole.
Recentresearchhashighlightedtheaffectthattheinternetishavingonthosewhoarevulnerable.Thestudyshowedthat8%ofpeoplewhowerepresentedtohospitalafterasuicideattemptsaidtheyhadusedtheinternetinconnectionwiththeirattempt,andthisrisesto12%forthoseaged16-24.Thosewhohadself-harmedandwereidentifiedashavingahighsuicidalriskwereevenhigherat24%.Italsofoundthatinasurveyof21yearolds,ofthosewhohadmadesuicideattempts,almostthreequartershadusedoraccessedsuiciderelatedmaterialontheinternet.1
However,thisreportsuggeststhatthismostlikelyrepresentsonlypartofthepicture.Atthemomentthereisalackofstrategyanddirectionfromthegovernmentinconfrontingasizableproblemandwhilemanypositivestepsarebeingmadebysuicidepreventioncharitiesandintheinternetindustryinaddressingtheseissues,morecanbedone.AfteracomprehensiveCallForEvidencefrominternetproviders,internetsearchengines,socialnetworkingsites,andsuicideandmentalhealthcharities,plusanOnlineSuicidePreventionSummitheldinParliamentonthe10thMay2016**thisreportcallsforthegovernmentandtheinternetindustrytotakeamorepro-activeapproach.
1LBiddleetal,“Prioritiesforsuicideprevention:balancingtherisksandopportunitiesofinternetuse”PolicyBristol7(2016).*”InternetIndustry”-Termusedinthisreport,andbymanycharitiesconsultedtorefertointernetproviders,searchengines,andsocialmediasites.**ThissummitwasledbyapanelconsistingoftheRt.HonGrantShappsMP,AlistairCampbell,RuthSutherland,ChiefExecutiveofSamaritans,andHamishElvidgeoftheMatthewElvidgeTrust.Theeventwasattendedbysuicidepreventioncharities,internetproviders,searchengines,andthoserepresentingsocialmediatodiscussmorestepsthatcouldbetakeninrelationtoonlinesuicideprevention.
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Recommendationsforthegovernment:WerecommendtheGovernmentlaunchesanewandmoredetailedpublichealthstrategyononlinesuicideprevention.Thisstrategyshouldinclude:
• TheGovernmentworkingwithsuicidepreventioncharities,healthbodies,andtheinternetindustrytomake'theNationalSuicidePreventionAlliance'sguidelinesforonlinecommunitymoderators'Respondingtosuicidalcontentonline'morevisible.Thereismorethegovernmentcandotopromotetheseguidelinesandbetterpublicisethem.
• Governmentmustalsobemorepro-activeinexploringwaysofrestrictingaccessthatexistprincipallytopromotesuicide.Ministerscanworkcloselywithsuicidepreventioncharitiesandtheinternetindustryaboutwhenitmaybebesttointervene.
• Recognisethattechnicalsolutionsaren’talwaystheanswerandeducationwilloftenbemoreeffective.ThereismoretheGovernmentcanbedoingtoeducatepeopleaboutusingtheinternetandaboutsuiciderelatedonlinesupport.ThiswouldinvolvetheGovernmentandtheNHSworkingcloserwiththeDepartmentofEducationandsuicidepreventioncharitiesabouthowbesttodothis.
• NotenoughdetailedresearchisbeingcarriedoutbytheGovernmentorpublichealthbodiesontheimpacttheinternetishavingonsuicide.WerecommendthattheGovernmentthereforeundertaketoworkcloselywithsuicidepreventioncharitiesandtheinternetindustrytodomoreresearchonactualonlinebehaviourofvulnerableindividualsandwhatapproacheswouldmosteffectivelyminimiseharm.
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Recommendationsfortheinternetindustry:Internetproviders,internetsearchengines,andsocialnetworkingsiteshavetakenpositivestepsinaddressingthethreatstheinternetposestothosewhoarevulnerable.Thisreportrecognisestheirprogressbutsuggeststhereismorethattheycanstilldo.Including:
• Stayingrelevantandexploringnewwaystheycanengagewiththosewhoarefeelingvulnerable,suchashelpingfacilitateinstantmessagingservicesforthosewhotheybelieve,throughforexamplethenatureoftheirinternetusage,maybevulnerable.
• Callingonallinternetproviderstocreatesignpostsontheirwebpageswithhelplinenumbersforthosewhoappearparticularlyvulnerable,includingforcingISP’sandsearchenginestocurbtheautocompletefeaturetoensureitexcludesasmallsetofsearchtermsthatwouldappearaspredictions.
• Optimisingsupportsiteswhensuiciderelatedtermshavebeensearched.
• Getthesectortogetherinconferenceregularlytodebatetheissueanddiscusshowtobemorevocalandpro-active.
WhileitisclearlywhollyunrealistictosuggestthatthreeorfourpoliciestakenupbytheGovernmentandthesectorwilleradicatesuicideattemptsorsuicidedeaths,thereareareascurrentlywhichinadvertentlyorotherwisehelp‘encourage’suicide.Tacklingthesewithproposalsthatbalancethedangerofover-regulationwiththesuggestionthatmoreneedstobedoneisadifficultyetnonethelessessentialtask.
ThousandsofpeopletaketheirownliveseachyearandyetthereremainsalackofdetailandspecificsonwhattheGovernmentisandhasbeendoingtoworkwiththeinternetindustryinthisarea.Havingsaidthis,theinternetplaysaninvaluableroleinpreventingsuicideandexpandingthisnetworkthroughsupportfromGovernment,localauthorities,internetproviders,searchenginesandsocialmediawillbevitalinensuringallthosewhoarevulnerablecanaccessthehelptheyneed.Anapproachisneededwhereworkingtochangeattitudestosuicidegoeshand-in-handwitheffectivepolicymaking.Thisreportproposesastepinthisdirection.
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1.HowmanypeoplehavetakentheirlifeintheUK?
• ThelatestfiguresfromtheOfficeofNationalStatisticsonsuicidedeathsintheUKarefrom2016.Theystatethattherewere5,965classifiedsuicidedeathsintheUK,whichisasuiciderateof10.4deathsper100,000people.
• 75%ofthesuicidesin2016weremalesand25%werefemales.Formalesthiswas16deathsper100,000,andthefemaleratewas5per100,000.
• ThehighestsuiciderateintheUKwasamongmenaged40-44with24.1deathsper100,000.Forwomen,thehighestsuicideagegroupwas50-54,with8.3deathsper100,000.
• InEnglandthehighestsuicideratewasintheSouthWest,with11.2deathsper100,000,whiletheLondonhadthelowestratewith7.8deathsper100,000.2
1.1 Itisimportanttonotreadtoomuchintoyearlystatistics,as
evaluatinglongtermtrendsisoftenmorebeneficialandappropriateasitwillbetteridentifythosewhoaremostvulnerable.Whatthelongtermstrendscurrentlyshowisthatmenaremuchmorelikelytotaketheirlifethanwomen,withthosewhomaremiddleagedandfrompoorersocio-economicbackgroundsthemostvulnerable.
1.2 Eachsuicideisatragiccaseandeveryindividualwillhavetheirownmotives.However,researchbythecharitySamaritanshasfoundthatthemaingeneralreasonsofthelong-termtrendsarebasedaroundunemployment,relationshipbreakdown,fragmentationofsocialrelationships,correlatingwithpsychologicalcharacteristicslikeimpulsivityandperceivedbarrierstotalkingaboutemotionsandseekinghelp.3
2SuicidesintheUK:2016registrations,OfficeforNationalStatistics,December2017.3“Men,Suicide,andSociety”,Samaritans,September2012.
“Therewere5,965classifiedsuicidedeathsintheUKin2016”
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2. Whatrolemighttheinternetbeplayinginfacilitatingsuicide?
2.1 Verylittleresearchhadbeendoneonassessinghowmanypeople
usetheinternetwhentheyarefeelingsuicidalandwhatimpactthematerialtheywereaccessingmightbehavingonthem.However,arecentground-breakingstudybytheUniversityofBristolinpartnershipwithcharitiesSamaritansandPapyrushasshedahugeamountoflightontheroletheinternetplays.Inaclinicalsampleofover1500patientsarrivingathospitalfollowingasuicideattempt,itfound:
§ 8%ofpeoplehadusedtheinternetinconnectionwiththeirsuicideattempt
§ Ofthoseaged16-24,12%usedtheinternetinconnectionwiththeirsuicideattempt
§ 24%ofthosewhohadself-harmedandwereidentifiedashavingahighsuicidalintenthadusedtheinternetinconnectionwiththeirsuicideattempt.
§ Inasurveyof21-yearolds,ofthe248participantswhohadmadesuicideattempts,threequartersreportedsomeformofsuiciderelatedinternetuse,whileoneinfivehadaccessedsitesgivinginformationonspecificmethodsofsuicide(althoughmostofthesepeoplehadalsoaccessedhelp-sites).
2.2 Thefindingshighlightedthattheinternetisusedbypeoplewhoself-harmand/orattemptsuicide,oftenasawaytoexplorepossiblemethodsandreadotheraccountsofthosewhoarefeelingsuicidal.Materialthatcouldbeseenasharmfulisalsoeasilyaccessiblethroughavarietyofdifferentmeans,includingthroughpopularinformationsites,anditistheyoungeruserstowhomtheinternetposesaparticulardanger.4
4LBiddleetal,“Prioritiesforsuicideprevention:balancingtherisksandopportunitiesofinternetuse”PolicyBristol7(2016).
“Theinternetisusedbypeoplewhoself-harmand/orattemptsuicide,oftenasawaytoexplorepossiblemethodsandreadotheraccountsofthosewhoarefeelingsuicidal.”
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3. WhatistheGovernment’scurrentonlinesuicidepreventionstrategy?
3.1 TheDepartmentofHealthsetouttheNationalSuicidePreventionstrategyforEnglandandWalesinSeptember2012withtheobjectiveofreducingthesuiciderateandofferingbettersupportforthosebereavedoraffectedbysuicide.Theylaidoutsixareaswhichtheybelievedactionwasneeded:
i. Reducetheriskofsuicideinkeyhigh-riskgroupsii. Tailorapproachestoimprovementalhealthin
specificgroupsiii. Reduceaccesstothemeansofsuicideiv. Providebetterinformationandsupporttothose
bereavedoraffectedbysuicidev. Supportthemediaindeliveringsensitive
approachestosuicideandsuicidalbehaviourvi. Supportresearch,datacollectionand
monitoring.5
3.2 TheGovernmentstrategyin2012statedthatpartofpointfiveofthestrategy,tosupportthemediaindeliveringsensitiveapproachestosuicideis“continuingtosupporttheinternetindustrytoremovecontentthatencouragessuicideandprovidereadyaccesstosuicidepreventionservices”.6
• Withinthis,theystresswhatthelawstatesinregardto
theencouragementofsuicideonline.TheyhighlightthattheDirectorofPublicProsecutionshasissuedguidelinesinrespecttoCasesofEncouragingSuicide,andstatetheircommitmenttoworkwiththeinternetindustryandcontentproviders.TheyplantodothisbypartneringwiththeUKCouncilforChildInternetSafety(UKCCIS)tocreateasaferonlineenvironment
5“PreventingsuicideinEngland:Across-governmentoutcomesstrategytosavelives”,DepartmentofHealth,September2012,Availablefromhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/430720/Preventing-Suicide-.pdf6PreventingsuicideinEngland,2012
“Bothreportsfailtoprovidesufficientdetailandanyspecificsaboutpreventingsuicideonline.Thisisnolongergoodenough.Morevocalandrobustactionisrequiredfromthegovernment”
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throughindustryself-regulation,improvinge-safetyeducation,andraisingpublicawareness.7
• TheGovernmentalsohighlighttheimportantworkSamaritansandothercharitiessuchasPapyrusaredoinginthisarea.
3.3 Thegovernmenthavefollowedthisupwithtwofurtherreports,oneinFebruary2015andasecondinJanuary2017intendedtoprovideanupdateontheprogressthatthisoriginalstrategyishaving.
3.4 However,theonlysignificantmentioningofonlinepreventioninthereportof2015highlightstheDepartmentofHealthfundedresearchstudyonunderstandingtheroleofsocialmediaandsuicide,whichfoundsuicidaltweetersshowahighdegreeofreciprocalconnectivitywhencomparedwithotherTwitterusers,suggestingacommunityofinterestandraisingconcernsthatsuiciderelatedcaseswereseentobenewsworthyinsocialmedia.8
3.5 ThereportinJanuary2017pointstothevitalworktheNationalSuicidePreventionAllianceandSamaritanshavebeenworkingon,highlightingtheguidelinesthattheyhaveissuedandtheprojectsthattheyhavetakenpartintolearnmoreabouttheonlineenvironment.ItalsonotesthefundingthatthegovernmentprovidedtosupporttheresearchcarriedoutbytheUniversityofBristolandSamaritans.9
3.6 Whileallthisiswelcome,bothfollowupreportsfailtoprovide
sufficientdetailandanyspecificsaboutwhatpolicyandwhatlargerrolethegovernmentcanorcouldplayinonlinesuicideprevention.Thisisnolongergoodenough.Morevocalandrobustactionisrequiredfromthegovernment.
7ibid8“PreventingsuicideinEngland:Twoyearson,Secondannualreportonthecross-governmentoutcomesstrategytosavelives”,DepartmentofHealth,February2015,Availablefromhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/405407/Annual_Report_acc.pdf9“PreventingsuicideinEngland:Thirdprogressreportofthecross-governmentoutcomesstrategytosavelives”,DepartmentofHealth,January2017,Availablefromhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/582117/Suicide_report_2016_A.pdf
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4. WhatmoremusttheGovernmentdo?4.1 Giventhelackofdetailsofar,werecommendthatthe
governmentlaunchesanewandmoredetailedpublichealthstrategyspecificallyrelatingtoonlinesuicideprevention.
Werecommend:
i. TheGovernmentworkingwithsuicidepreventioncharities,healthbodies,andtheinternetindustrytomakecurrentguidelinesonhowtheinternetindustryandusersshouldrespondtosuicidalcontentonlinemuchmorevisible.
o TheNationalSuicidePreventionAlliance
haveissuedguidelinesforonlinecommunitymoderators'Respondingtosuicidalcontentonline'.Theseguidelinesexplainclearlywhattodo,whatsuicidalcontentis,howtorespond,whattosay,andhowtodevelopeffectivepolicies.10o Theseguidelinesareinformative,easyto
understandandgiventhebackgroundsofthedraftees,authoritative.o Thegovernmenthasadutytomakethese
guidelinesmorevisible.Workingwithsuicidepreventioncharitiesandtheinternetindustryabouthowbesttodothis,throughfunding,educational,orvocalsupporttheGovernmentcancontributemuchmorethantheycurrentlydotoensurethatallusersknowwhattobeawareofwhencomingacrosssuicidalcontent.
ii. TheGovernmenttobemorepro-activeandmakeefforts
todiscourageaccesstositesthatexistprincipallytopromotesuicide.
10NationalSuicidePreventionAlliance,“Respondingtosuicidalcontentonline:Bestpracticeguidelines”,Availablefromhttp://www.nspa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NSPA-Guidelines-Responding-to-Suicidal-Content-Online-2016.pdf
“Werecommendthegovernmentlaunchesanewandmoredetailedpublichealthstrategyspecificallyrelatedtoonlinesuicideprevention”
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
o Whileweunderstandthattherearedifficultiesin
regardstothelawandwhatmaybemostbeneficialfortheuser,theGovernmentmustdomoretorestrictaccesstocertainsites,pages,orchatroomsthatexistprimarilytopromotesuicideandself-harm.Wikipediainparticularpublishwhatcaneasilydeemedtobeirresponsiblematerial.Belowisjustasmallexampleofthematerialthatisaccessibleonlinethatwebelieveisinappropriateorpromotesandencouragessuicide.
FigureA:AdiagramshowingpeoplehowtouseasuicidebagonWikipedia
FigureB:AdetailedandgraphicexplanationoftheactofhangingonWikipedia
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FigureC:Websiterankingsuicidemethodsonlethality,time,andagony.
o Suchinformationservesnopositivepurpose,andtheGovernmentshouldbetakingamuchmoreaggressiveapproachinencouragingsiteslikeWikipediatoestablishmoreresponsiblepractices.o WewouldurgetheGovernmenttoworkcloselywithsuicidepreventioncharitiesandtheinternetindustryandtherelevantorganisationspublishingsuchmaterialtoworkoutwhenandhowrestrictingsuchmaterialisappropriateandnecessary.
o ThisisalsoanissuetheHealthSelectCommittee
recognise,astheycallintheirinterimreportonSuicidePreventionforthegovernmenttoworkwithinternetprovidersandsocialmediaplatformstoconsiderwhatchangesshouldbemadetorestrictaccesstositeswhichencourageself-harmorgivedetailedadviceonsuicidemethods.11
11HealthSelectCommittee,SuicidePrevention:InterimReport,December2016
“Governmentshouldbetakingamuchmoreaggressiveapproachinstampingdownonsitesthatexistprimarilytopromotesuicideandself-harm.”
“Thereremainsscopeforfurtherresearchinthisarea…TheGovernmenthaveanopportunityhere”
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iii. Recognisethattechnicalsolutionsaren’talwaystheanswerandeducationwilloftenbemoreeffective.
o Educationwilloftenbemoreeffectiveor
appropriatewheninformingyoungpeopleabouthowtousetheinternet,whattobeawareofinregardstosuiciderelatedmaterial,andhowtorespondappropriately.Technicalsolutionscanoffernecessaryandeffectivemeanstotacklingtheproblemsthatoccurasaresultofonlinesuicideuse,butultimatelytotackletherootcausesofsuchissuesitrequiresindeptheducationofthedangerstheinternetcanpose.Thisrequiresthegovernmenttobemorepro-activeanddetailspecificsaboutwhatfurthercanbedonetotacklethisproblem.
o Inordertoachievesubstantialresults,webelieve
thegovernmentandtheNHSshouldworkcloserwiththeDepartmentofEducationandcharitiestoexploreotherwaysthatmayproveeffectiveineducatingpeopleaboutonlinesuicidepreventionandthepositivesandnegativesthattheinternetposesinthisregard.
o Webelievethatwiththeareasoffurthereducation,
skills,andhighereducationmovingfromtheresponsibilityoftheDepartmentofBusiness,Energy,andIndustrialStrategy(BEIS)totheDepartmentofEducation(DfE)itoffersavaluableopportunitytoexplorenewwaysofhowmoreyoungpeoplecanbeeducatedaboutsuiciderelatedmaterialonline.
o Thismayincludeincreasingfundingtohelpsupport
charitieswhoaimtoprovidesucheducation,orlookingathowdigitalcitizenshipmethodscouldbeexploredandfurthered,soyoungstersaretaughthowtobestusetheinternetwiththeparticulardangersofonlinesuicidecontenthighlightedasanexample.
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iv. TheGovernmenttocommissionmoredetailedresearch
o ThemostrecentnewresearchbytheUniversityof
Bristolandthecharitieswhoworkedinpartnershipwiththemwasmuchneededandincrediblyinformative,butthereremainsscopeforfurtherresearchinthisarea.
o Thisareahastoooftenbeenleftsubjectiveand
therehasbeeninsufficientresearchinrelationtotheimportanceanddangeroftheinternet.TheGovernmenthaveanopportunityheretobecomemorepro-activeandsupportive.Findingthemostappropriatewaystoexploretheimpacttheinternetishavingonthosewhoaresuicidal,whytheyusetheinternet,howtheyviewthematerialthattheycomeacross,anddetermininghowmanyofthosewhohavetakentheirlifemighthaveusedtheinternetasasourceofinformationorreceivedencouragementthroughitmaybealengthyanddifficultprocess,butitisanessentialoneinordertoworkouthowbesttotacklethisproblem.
o Suchresearchisvitalforusersandcharitiestostay
uptodate,relevant,andtobeabletomaketherightdecisionsaroundcriticalissuesastheycontinuetodevelop.Moreresearchwillleadtomoreawareness,andbetterdesignedmethodsofengagementwiththosethatarevulnerable.
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5. Whathastheinternetindustrydonetohelptacklethisissue?
5.1. Theinternetplaysaninvaluableroleinreachingouttothosewhoarevulnerable.Whetherthisisthroughthelaudableworkmanycharitiesaredoingthroughonlinehelpsitesandinterventions,orthroughworkingwiththeinternetindustryandengaginginnewwaystohelppreventthepromotionandencouragementofsuicide,andexpandingtheinternetasasourceofsupport,theinternetcanbeaforceforgood.
5.2. Socialmediasites,internetproviders,andsearchengineswillallplayaroleinhelpingfacilitateconnections,andallowingandpromotingeasyaccesstositesthatprovideawarenessandsupport,aswellasofferingthissupportthemselvesandhelpingimplementcertainpreventiontechniques.Theinternetcanprovideaspaceforpeople,oftenanonymously,toshareanddiscusstheirfeelingsandwithoutfearofbeingjudged.Itisvitalthatpeoplecanfeelopenandsupportiveindiscussingsuicide,andtheinternetisaperfectwaytoengagepeopletotalkmoreabouttheseemotions.
5.3. Itisextremelyimportantthatthissupportiscontinuallyexpandeduponbyorganisationssuchassocialmediasites,internetproviders,andsearchengines.Theinternetmustbeusedasatooltoreachouttoasmanypeoplethatarefeelingvulnerableaspossible.AsthecharitySamaritanshavehighlighted,bydevelopingresponsiblepracticesrelatingtosuicideandhavingeasilyaccessibleguidanceonhowtoappropriatelyrespondtousersthatexpresssuicidalintentisaneffectivewayofbeingabletorespondquickly.Engagingwithorganisationsandcharitiesthatspecialiseinsuicidepreventionandmentalhealth,andwhomareoftenbestplacedtoknowandprovideaccurateinformationwhenformingandimplementingthisguidanceandstrategyisessential.12
5.4. Goodprogresshasbeenmadeonthisfront.SamaritansandFacebookhaveworkedonarevisedsuicidepreventiontool
12PolicyBriefing:SuicideandtheOnlineEnvironment,Samaritans,May2014
“Theinternetplaysaninvaluableroleinreachingouttothosewhoarevulnerable”
“Itisextremelyimportantthatsupportiscontinuallyexpandedbysocialmediasites,internetproviders,andsearchengines.Theinternetmustbeusedasatooltoreachouttoasmanypeoplethatarefeelingvulnerableaspossible…Goodprogresshasbeenmadeonthisfront”
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whichwasrolledoutinJanuary2011,andFacebookhaveadaptedtheir‘reportthispost’tooltoincludeacategoryhighlightingwhensomeonemightbeatriskofharmingthemselves.TheusercanthencontactSamaritansiftheywish.13SamaritanshavealsoestablishedpartnershipswithYouTubeandTwitter.14
5.5. WithTwitter,afterassessingareportofself-harmorsuicide
contactthereporteduserandlethimorherknowthatsomeonewhocaresaboutthemidentifiedthattheymightbeatrisk,andtheyprovidethereporteduserwithavailableonlineresourcesencouragingthemtoseekhelp.15
5.6. Instagramhasanewsuicidepreventiontoolthatallowsafriend
toreportapostthatworriesthem,andtheirfriendwillgetamessagesaying,"someonesawoneofyourpostsandthinksyoumightbegoingthroughadifficulttime.Ifyouneedsupport,we'dliketohelp."Theyarethengiventheoptiontotalktoafriend,contactahelplineorreceivefurthersupport.Instagramalsohasaresponseinplacethatwhensomeonesearchesforaself-harmflaggedhashtag,acontentadvisorywarningpopsup.ClickingonthatbuttonwillthenleadtoawebsiteforBefriendersWorldwide.16
5.7. Furthermore,theroleofsearchenginesisimportant,asitwill
bethefirstplacemanypeoplegotofindinformation.ImportantstepshavebeenmadeherewithGoogle,Yahoo,Bing,andAskJeevesalldisplayinghelplinenumbersaboveresultswhenusershavesearchedsuicideandself-harmrelatedkeywords.Thisishugelysignificantasitisthefirstthingthatsomeonewillseewhenarrivingonthepageanditisawelcomeattempttoreachoutandprovidesupport.
13SummitonOnlineSuicidePrevention:CallforEvidenceResponse,Samaritans,May201614ibid15“Dealingwithself-harmandsuicide”,Twitterhelpcentre,Availablefromhttps://support.twitter.com/articles/2017031316CallforEvidence:OnlineSuicidePreventionSummit,Facebook,May2016
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6. Whatmorecantheinternetindustrydo?6.1 Whilewehaveestablishedtheimportantrolethattheinternetcan
andmustcontinuetoplaywecannotignorethedangersitposes.Whetherthisisthroughonlinepro-suicidediscussionorallowingandpromotingaccesstopotentiallyharmfulinformation.Theinternethasbeenshowntonormaliseself-harmandpotentiallydiscourageprofessionalhelp-seekingwithcyberbullying17andultimatelythedifficultyishavingtostrikeabalancebetweenfreedomofexpressionandpublicprotection.Thisisespeciallydifficultgiventheglobalnatureoftheinternet.18
6.2 Assomehavearguedtheinternetiscurrentlyalotlessregulatedthanotherformsofmedia.Forexample,ifradio,television,andnewspapersbroadcastorpublishmaterialthatisquestionableorinaccuratethentheyareheldaccountablebyindependentregulatorsandcanloseanaudienceasaresult.However,withtheinternetandsocialmedia,informationisdecentralised,anditischangedorupdatedconstantlybyitsusersandthismeanstheinternethasveryfewrestrictionsoncontentcomparedtoothermediaoutlets.1920
6.3 AstheWorldHealthOrganizationhavealsoargued,internetsitesandsocialmediahavebeenimplicatedinbothincitingandfacilitatingsuicidalbehaviourandthereareconcernsoverthesupplementaryroletheInternetandsocialmediaareplayinginsuicidecommunication.21Socialmediacanallowaplatformforcyberbullying,andastheDepartmentofHealthfundedresearchstudyonunderstandingtheroleofsocialmediaandsuicidehasfound,suicidaltweetersshowahighdegreeofreciprocalconnectivity.22Furthermore,asshownbyfurther
17KDaineetal,“ThePoweroftheWeb:ASystematicReviewofStudiesoftheInfluenceoftheInternetonSelf-HarmandSuicideinYoungPeople”,PublicLibraryofScience8(October2013).18LBiddleetal,“Suicideandtheinternet”,BritishMedicalJournal336(April2008).19D.Luxtonetal,“SocialMediaandSuicide:APublicHealthPerspective”,AmericanJournalofPublicHealth102(May2012).20JGFiedorowiczetal,“InternetandSuicide”,(NewYork2009).21“PreventingSuicide:Aglobalperspective”,WorldHealthOrganisation(2014).22PreventingsuicideinEngland:Twoyearson(2015)
“Suicidaltweetersshowahighdegreeofreciprocalconnectivity…peoplepostingaboutsuicideontheinternetareofteninitiallyunsure,buttheirresolvestrengthensasothersencouragethem,andseekinghelpbecomesmoredifficult.”
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research,peoplepostingaboutsuicideontheinternetareofteninitiallyunsurebuttheirresolvestrengthensasothersencouragethemandseekinghelpbecomesmoredifficult.23
6.4 Thereisadifficultyinstrikinganappropriatebalanceontheissueasusers,charities,andbodiesneedtoworkwithintheparametersofthelawandrespecttherightofprivacy,freedomofspeech,moreoversocialmedia,searchengines,andinternetprovidersareallprivateactorsintheonlineworld.However,afteranonlinesuicidepreventionsummitheldinParliamentonthe10thMay2016,attendedbysuicidepreventionandmentalhealthcharities,internetproviders,socialnetworkingsites,andpoliticians,followedbyacomprehensivecallofevidencefromthosethatattendedwehaveadvancedaprogramme.Webelievethiscanshowwheretherearegapstobefilledandwherewecanmakearealdifference.Weaskedthreequestions:• “WhatdoyouthinkaboutSocialNetworkingSiteswithregard
totheirparticularinfluenceonmentalhealthandsuicideinparticular?DoyouthinkthatSocialNetworkingSitesshouldbedoingmoretotryandprotectvulnerableusers,orwouldthisbeaskingtheimpossibleinalargelyunregulatedspace?Doyoubelievethatpublicgoodisdeliveredfromsharedexperienceandinformationonsocialmedia?”
• “HowdoyouthinkInternetsearchenginescanhelp?Isthere
moretobelearntfromotherexperiences;e.g.tacklingextremismorchildpornographyonline?
• “WhatabouttheroleofInternetProvidersthemselves?Should
theyhaveagreaterroleandresponsibilityinmonitoringthestate(andpotentiallythementalstate)oftheirusers?Ordoesthisrepresentasteptoofar-isitrealistictoasktheprovideroftheinternetconnectionbeinvolvedinthisway?”
6.5 Basedontheresponsesthatwereceivedandwhatwasdebatedatthesummitweputforwardrecommendationsthatwebelievethe
23PBaumeetal,“Cybersuicide:theroleofinteractivesuicidenotesontheinternet”,Crisis18(1997).
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internetindustryshouldpursueinordertofurthertacklethisissue.
Werecommend:
i. Stayingrelevantandexploringnewwaystheycanengagewiththosewhoarefeelingvulnerable,suchashelpingfacilitateinstantmessagingservicesforthosewhotheybelievemaybevulnerable.
o Withthosewhoareyoungerbeingmorelikely
tousetheinternet,andindeedusetheinternettoengagewithsuiciderelatedmaterial,itisvitalthatinternetserviceproviders,searchengines,andsocialmediasitesstayrelevant.Forexample,formanyyoungpeoplefeelingvulnerableasignpostdirectingthemtophoneanumbermaynotbeenoughtoengagewiththemorencouragethemtoseekhelp.
o TheNationalSuicidePreventionAlliancehavearguedthatthereisscopeforsearchproviderstogofurtherthanjustdisplaynumbersatthetopofthepageandthinkabouthowtheycandelivermoresubstantialinformationonsourcestohelp.24Stayingrelevant,beinginnovativeandadaptingtoyouruser’sneedsisessentialforanybusinesstostaysuccessfulandthesamemustapplywhenreachingouttothosewhoarevulnerableonline.
o OrganisationssuchasSamaritansareexploring
suchmethods,includinginstantmessagingservicesastheyrecognisemanypeopleneedinstantonlinesupport.Thisissomethingtheinternetindustrycancontinuetoengagewith,andseehowtheymaybeabletohelpfacilitateorhelppromotesothatmorepeoplecanbereachedouttoinnewinnovativeandcreativewayssothatonlinesupportstayscurrentandeffective.
24“Response:SummitonOnlineSuicidePrevention”,NationalSuicidePreventionAlliance,May2016.
“Stayingrelevant,beinginnovativeandadaptingtoyouruser’sneedsisessentialforanybusinesstostaysuccessfulandthesamemustapplywhenreachingouttothosewhoarevulnerableonline”
“Formanyyoungpeoplefeelingvulnerableasignpostdirectingthemtophoneanumbermaynotbeenoughtoengagewiththemorencouragethemtoseekhelp”
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
ii. Callingonallinternetprovidersandsearchenginestocreatesignpostsontheirwebpageswithhelplinenumbersforthosewhoappearparticularlyvulnerable.Thisincludedinternetserviceprovidersandsearchenginescurbingtheautocompletefeaturetoensureitexcludesasmallsetofsearchtermsthatwouldappearaspredictions.
o Whilesearchingfornewinnovativewaystoengagewithpeoplethatarevulnerableisessential,thereremainsroomforimprovementwithsignpostingontheinternet.
o Ofthefivemostusedandpopularsearchengines(includingGoogle,Yahoo,Bing,Aol,andAskJeeves)fourofthesehaveahelplinenumberonthetopoftheirnewsfeedaftersearchingspecifickeywords
relatingtovulnerability.
FigureD:RedcirclehighlightingwhereGoogledisplaysahelplinenumber
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
FigureE:RedcirclehighlightingwhereYahoodisplaysahelplinenumber
FigureF:RedcirclehighlightingwhereAskJeevesdisplaysahelplinenumber
FigureG:RedcirclehighlightingwhereBingdisplaysahelplinenumber
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
FigureH:AcrosshighlightingthatAOLdonotdisplayanyhelplinenumber
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
o AOLdidnotprovideanyhelplinenumbersonitspage.Thereisanecessityforallsearchenginestoworktogetheronthis,andallshouldhavehelplinenumbersandsuitablesignposting.
o Furthermore,whenpeoplearesearchingforcertaintermsaroundthisissueeveryattemptshouldbemadetocurbtheautocompletefeaturesawayfrompredictingorencouragingdirectiontoharmfulcontent.
FigureI:Redcirclehighlightingtheunhelpfulsuggestionsthatappearonauto-completewhentyping‘howcanIkillmyself’onAoL.
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
FigureJ:Redcirclehighlightingtheunhelpfulsuggestionsthatappearonauto-completewhentyping‘howcanIkillmyself’onYahoo.
FigureK:Screenshothighlightingthatnounhelpfulsuggestionsappearonauto-completewhentyping‘howcanIkillmyself’onGoogle.
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o Asyoucansee,whileGooglehascurbedtheseautocompletefeatures,othershavenot.WefeelGoogle’sapproachdemonstratesthebestpractice.Othershouldfollowtheirlead.
o Equally,searchenginesandinternetserviceprovidersshouldbeavoidinganyotherattemptstohelpusersfindpotentialharmfulmaterialandbyautomaticallytryingtofinishorfindwhattheuserissearchingforitgivestheimpressionthatwhattheyaresearchingforisthenorm.Theymustensurethattheyarenotsubtlyorindirectlyencouraginguser’stoengagewithsuiciderelatedcontent.
iii. Optimisingsupportsiteswhensuiciderelatedtermshavebeensearched.
o Aftertypinginsuchphrasessuchas“howtokillyourself”theinitialpagesthatsearchenginesdisplayaremainlynotonesofferingsupport.
FigureL:RedsquarehighlightingtheunhelpfulsuggestionsthatappearonthefirstpageonYahooaftersearching‘howtokillyourself’.
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
FigureM:RedsquarehighlightingtheunhelpfulsuggestionsthatappearonthefirstpageonGoogleaftersearching‘howtokillyourself’
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
FigureN:RedsquarehighlightingtheunhelpfulsuggestionsthatappearonthefirstpageonAskJeevesaftersearching‘howtokillyourself’
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
FigureO:RedsquarehighlightingtheunhelpfulsuggestionsthatappearonthefirstpageonAoLaftersearching‘howtokillyourself’
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Screenshotsofonlinematerialaredeliberatelylowresolutioninordernottopromoteitscontent,butinsteadtohighlightanoverviewofourresearchinthisarea.Originalscreenshotsofthematerialareavailablethroughaccreditedorganisations.
FigureP:RedsquarehighlightingtheunhelpfulsuggestionsthatappearonthefirstpageonBingaftersearching‘howtokillyourself’
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o Moremustbedone:searchenginesmustactivelyremoveharmfuloptionsrelatingtosearchtermsfromappearingatthetopofthelist.Thefirstnumberofresultsaftersearchingkeywordsliketheaboveshouldnotbesoexplicitbutinsteadbeofferingsupportorguidance.
o TheimportanceofencouragingsuchmethodsisenforcedbyfurtherresearchbyBiddleetalthathashighlightedthebenefitsofhavingserviceproviderspursuewebsiteoptimisationstrategiestomaximisethelikelihoodthatvulnerablepeoplehaveaccesstohelpfulratherthanharmfulsites.Theyhavepointedtohoweasyitisgetaccesstodetailedinformationaboutmethodsofsuicide,pointingouthowsuicidesiteswerethethreemostfrequentlyoccurringwebpages.25
o TheimportanceofresponsiblemediareportingwhentalkingandinformingaboutsuicideisvitalandhasbeenshowntoreducesuicideratesaccordingtotheWHO.26Thisresponsiblereportingisdefinedas“avoidingdetaileddescriptionofsuicidalacts,avoidingsensationalismandglamorization,usingresponsiblelanguage,minimizingtheprominenceofsuicidereports,avoidingoversimplifications,educatingthepublicaboutsuicideandavailabletreatments,andprovidinginformationonwheretoseekhelp”.27Thereforetheinternetindustryplaysahugelyimportantroleinensuringthattheaccessvulnerablepeoplehavetocertainsitesisappropriateandthattheyarenotcontributingbyindirectlyhelpingpeoplegaineasyaccesstositesthatsensationaliseandglamourizesuicide.
25Suicideandtheinternet,200826“Towardsevidence-basedsuicidepreventionprogrammes:WorldHealthOrganisationRegionalOfficefortheWesternPacific”,WorldHealthOrganisation(2010),Availablefrom,http://www.wpro.who.int/mnh/TowardsEvidencebasedSPP.pdf27“Preventingsuicide:aresourceformediaprofessionals”,WorldHealthOrganisation(2000),Availablefromhttp://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/426.pdf
“Thosewhoareworkingintheinternetindustryareamongthebrightestintheworld.Theseinnovatorsshouldnotrelyoncharitiesandgovernmenttojusttakethelead”
“Wearecallingfortheinternetindustrytobeevenmorevocalandpositivearoundthepotentialtoimproveonlinesuicideprevention”
“Thereremainsroomforimprovementwithsignpostingontheinternet.Ofthefivemostusedandpopularsearchenginesonlythreeofthesehaveahelplinenumber”
“Searchenginesandinternetserviceprovidersshouldbeavoidinganyattemptstohelpuserseasilyaccesspotentiallyharmfulmaterial.However,aftertypinginphrasessuchas“howtokillyourself”theinitialpagesthataredisplayedaremainlyonesnotofferingsupport”
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o Byensuringsearchengineshavehelplinenumbers
availabletoall,andthatthefirstmainpostsareonesinwhichofferemotionalsupportandguidance,itincreasestheeffectivenessoftheinternetasaplaceofsupport.
iv. Increasecommunicationandcohesiveactionamongthesector
o Thosewhoareworkingintheinternetindustryareamongthebrightestintheworld,withinnovation,creativityandimaginationatthecentreofeverythingthattheydo.Theseinnovatorsshouldnotrelyoncharitiesandgovernmenttojusttaketheleadandrelyonthemtoimplementthenecessarymeasures.
o Whiletheremaybepeoplebetterplacedtoadviseonthespecificsofhowtorespondtothosewhoarefeelingvulnerable,internetproviders,searchengines,andsocialmediasitescanandmustbemorevocalasanindustryonthisissue.
o Theyhavemademanypositivesteps,butweare
callingfortheinternetindustrytobeevenmorevocalandpositivearoundthepotentialtoimproveonlinesuicidepreventionandbytheendof2017wewouldliketoseeinternetserviceproviders,searchengines,andsocialmediasitesworkingandsharingtheirbestpracticesontheissue.
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7. Conclusions7.1 Whatthisreporthasattemptedtodoishighlightthatthe
Government,internetproviders,searchengines,andsocialmediasitesmustbemorepro-activeandcontinuetotakepositivestepsintheirapproachtotacklingsuicideandonlinesuicideprevention.
7.2 Wehaveestablishedthatalotofgoodandimportantworkhasbeendoneinattemptingtoreachouttothosewhoarevulnerable,andthatattitudesarechangingacrossthecountrywhenitcomestomentalhealthandsuicide.However,wecannotbecomplacent,andwemustrecognizethattherearegapsandmorecanbedone.
7.3 TheGovernmenthaslaidoutastrategytohelptacklesuicide,but
itlacksdetailandspecificsandwebelievewithrecentresearchhighlightingtheimpacttheinternetishaving,thereismoreforthemtodo.
7.4 Furthermore,inanerawheretheinternetisnowthego-tosource
forinformationandaccesstoawealthofknowledge,itmustcontinueasaneffectivesourceofsupportforpeoplewhoarevulnerable.Internetserviceproviders,searchengines,andsocialmediasiteshavetakenimportantstepsinhelpingpreventsuicidesbytryingtoreducewheretheinternetcaninadvertentlypromoteorencouragesuicide.However,theytoomustrecognizethatthereismorethatcanbedonebymakingsuretheinternetisasourceofsupportandguidanceabouttheimpacttheinternetishavingonsuicide.
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ThankyouThankyoutothefollowingindividualsandorganisationswhohaveinsomewaycontributedtotheworkincludedinthisreport:ActionforChildrenAlastairCampbellAndrewandArnoldLtdAnnCulley,ChairoftheSupportforBereavementbySuicidecharityAnti-BullyingAllianceAnxietyUKAquissAsk4BipolarUKBritishTelecommunicationsClareMilton-Haven,co-FounderoftheJamesWentworthStanleyMemorialFundCLASPConsole:TheNationalSuicideCharityCruseBereavementCareDrLukeSullivanFacebookNetworkRailFarmingCommunityNetworkGedFlynn,PAPYRUSGoogleGrassrootsSuicidePreventionGreatLumleyStreetCommunityCentreHafalHamishElvidge,theMatthewElvidgeTrustHanoverCommunicationsHarmlessIfUCareShareIMAGOJanePowell,wholaunchedCALMJonnyBenjaminMBEKidscapeLighthouseListeningEarMaytree:ASanctuaryfortheSuicidalMedConfidentialNationalSuicidePreventionAlliance
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NightlineNSPCCOriginBroadbandOutlookSouthWestPaddyBazeley,founderoftheMaytreeFoundationSuicideRespiteCentrePaulFarmer,ChiefExecutiveofMINDProfLouisAppleby,ChairandgeneralspearheadofNationalSuicidePreventionStrategyRedBalloonLearnerCentresRuthSutherland,ChiefExecutiveoftheSamaritansSANESelfharmUKSelfhelp:ImprovingMentalHealthSuicideSaferLondonTalkTalkTheChildren’sSocietyTheJamesWentworthStanleyMemorialFundTheOpenRightsGroupTwitterUNO(xilo)YouthAccessYouthScapeZenInternet