Suicide prevention tools are becoming more prevalent and useful. However, they do not negate the importance of in-person care, such as mental health IOP in Scottsdale. Did you know that one suicide death is reported in the United States every 11.5 minutes? 1 That statistic is just one of the many reasons why suicide prevention tools are becoming so important. Many types of tools are available right on your phone that can lead you to the help you need before it’s too late.
We’re going to explore some of the different suicide prevention tools that are available right on your phone, as well as the treatment available at Healing Foundations Center.
Technology at Work in Suicide Prevention
Researchers are looking at ways that apps and artificial intelligence may be able to assess a person’s risk of suicide and intervene before it’s too late.2 One of these is by tracking physical activity, sleep patterns, moods, and social interactions.
By gathering this type of data, researchers hope to receive vital information on people with the highest risk of suicide. This type of technology could be used to track people who may be released from the hospital but are still considered at high risk for suicidal thoughts. When this information is processed and sent to the appropriate people, people can receive the help they need even if they are not directly accessing it.
There are other beliefs that people may be more honest when answering a questionnaire about their private thoughts through an app than talking directly to another person. If people are being 100% truthful with a computer, the information gathered can also be used to determine those at high risk. This information can then be passed to a human being who can begin to facilitate care.
The goal of using technology as a suicide prevention tool is perhaps to act more quickly so that people can get help when they actually need it. With technology’s immediacy, those with suicidal thoughts can be identified more quickly. There is no need to wait for an appointment or wait until someone realizes there is a problem.
While all of these suicide prevention tools can be extremely helpful, support groups, behavioral therapy, and a support group of family and friends are not lost on researchers who continue to find the best combination of resources available.
Suicide Prevention Tools
There are currently several different suicide prevention tools that are available to help people who may be going through a difficult time and are at risk of suicide. These are just a few that are currently available:
Virtual Hope Box
The Hope Box started off as a non-app version and was used as a tool to help those at risk of suicide find reasons for living. People would fill a shoebox or other container with future goals, pictures of loved ones, and anything else that would give them hope. When they felt their suicidal thoughts increase, they would take the box out to remind them of all that was good in their lives.
The Virtual Hope Box still does this as it helps people live through painful experiences by helping them cope, relax, and find inspiration in a virtual setting. 3
notOK
The notOK app is geared toward teens who are having difficulty. A struggling teenager and her brother developed it. The app features a large, red button that teens can use to let someone in their support network know they need help. They can add up to five people to their support group, who will be notified when they hit the button. This can hopefully get them the help they need before it’s too late. 4
SAMSHA-Suicide Safe
Suicide Safe is a tool that primary care and behavioral health providers can use to help patients who have suicidal tendencies. It can help them identify those who are struggling with mental health and who may need help.5
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides help 24/7 for people in distress. It is free and confidential. By dialing or texting 988, people can speak with, text, or chat with someone at The Lifeline. The Lifeline comprises a national network of more than 200 local crisis centers. It combines custom local care and resources with national standards. Help is available in both English and Spanish. 6
Suicide Safety Plan
This app helps users cope and stay safe if they have suicidal thoughts. It allows users to program useful information such as contacts, personal warning signs, and coping strategies. It also allows users to get help easily and leads them to resources to help them get the most out of their safety plan. 7
The Mighty
The Mighty allows people to share their mental health experiences and other health conditions. They can document their journey while interacting with others if they choose. There are also helpful articles and resources available. This can provide needed support. 8
While all of these tools can be extremely helpful in detecting those needing help, they do not take away from the importance of in-person care. These suicide prevention tools allow technology to play a role, but human interaction is still vital for recovery.
Suicide Prevention & Mental Health IOP in Scottsdale
At Healing Foundations Center, we provide services for those who are battling mental health issues that may lead to suicidal thoughts.
People suffering from mental issues may experience symptoms like mood shifts, hallucinations, self-destructive behaviors, and engage in self-harm. Our treatment programs recognize that mental health disorders can have these varied symptoms and that each patient needs a customized program to succeed.
Our treatment plans may include a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, as well as exposure therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be useful for those with suicidal thoughts because it helps to focus on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can lead to self-destructive actions. Dialectical behavioral therapy is a tool that is used to treat severe conditions and those who are diagnosed as being chronically suicidal. It focuses on accepting uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to help people cope.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is another tool used at Healing Foundations Center. This can help those suffering from trauma-related conditions and PTSD. It intends to shift adverse reactions with positive ones using repetitive eye movements stimulating the brain.
Those who have PTSD, phobias, and OCD may undergo exposure therapy as part of their treatment. This type of therapy focuses on determining what triggers specific anxieties and how to deal with them when they arise.
All of our programs at Healing Foundations Center aim to help people deal with their mental health issues and live happy and productive life, free of suicidal thoughts and tendencies. For more information on our programs, call us today or reach out to us online to learn more about how we can help.
Sources:
[1] https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/30/health/suicide-predict-smartphone.html
[3] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/virtual-hope-box/id825099621
[4] https://www.notokapp.com/
[5] https://store.samhsa.gov/product/suicide-safe
[6] https://988lifeline.org/about/
[7] https://suicidesafetyplan.app/
[8] https://themighty.com/