Safety, Acceptability, and Initial Effectiveness of a Novel Digital Suicide Prevention Campaign Challenging Perceived Burdensomeness: A Mixed Methods Study

Background: Better Off With You is a peer-to-peer, digital suicide prevention campaign pilot designed to challenge the idea of perceived burdensomeness; the schema experienced by many people contemplating suicide that they are a burden on others. Aims: To investigate the safety, acceptability, and i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Crisis : the journal of crisis intervention and suicide prevention 2023-05, Vol.44 (3), p.189-197
Main Authors: Webb, Marianne, Carrotte, Elise R., Flego, Anna, Vincent, Bonnie, Lee-Bates, Benjamin, Heath, Jack, Blanchard, Michelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Distress
Experiences (Events)
Female
Help Seeking Behavior
Human
Life Experiences
Lived Experience
Male
Peers
Safety
Schema
Suicide Prevention
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Summary:Background: Better Off With You is a peer-to-peer, digital suicide prevention campaign pilot designed to challenge the idea of perceived burdensomeness; the schema experienced by many people contemplating suicide that they are a burden on others. Aims: To investigate the safety, acceptability, and initial effectiveness of the campaign. Method: This mixed methods pilot involved a general community sample (N = 157), from targeted sites within two Australian communities. Data were collected at baseline and after 1-week exposure to the campaign videos and website. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a subset of participants (N = 15). Results: Participants rated the campaign as highly engaging and relevant to local communities. In interviews, participants identified the campaign as being unique, safe, and impactful. Overall, exposure to Better Off With You did not result in any notable changes in perceived burdensomeness, psychological distress, or help-seeking. Limitations: The pilot involved a community sample. As such, outcome measurement scores were low at baseline. Conclusion: This pilot provides new insights about the safety, engagement and initial effectiveness of the Better Off With You campaign. Future research is needed to explore its impact on people experiencing suicidal ideation.
ISSN:0227-5910
2151-2396
DOI:10.1027/0227-5910/a000840