As we mark World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September), this day also marks one year since the launch of R;pple – the suicide prevention charity.
R;pple is a charitable organisation, founded by Alice Hendy, working to reduce cases of suicide in the UK by providing a browser extension tool. The tool has now been downloaded over 850,000 and has had an impact on at least 24individuals who say they tool intercepted them at their most vulnerable time.
In 2020, there were over completed 5,200 suicides registered in England and Wales (ONS). However, the number of attempted suicides is growing.
Online searches of suicide have been found on victims’ histories and those who attempted suicide say they conducted searches into suicide materials related to either instruction or motivation. Over 1.2 million internet searches of ways to take your own life were registered every month in 2019 (Semrush).
Searches for suicide methods have increased by 50% since 2020 (Semrush) and searches for suicide hotlines have increased by 125% since January 2019 (Semrush).
Alice Hendy lost her brother, Josh, in November 2020 from suicide. Josh was her only sibling and was 21 years of age. After examining Josh’s devices, Alice found that Josh had been researching techniques to take his own life via internet searches.
“When learning of the circumstances surrounding Josh's death,” said Alice, “It became apparent that he had been researching methods to take his own life via online search results. I chose to visit these websites and search results myself to enter Josh's headspace. What I discovered shocked me to the core. Harmful online search results add a level of vulnerability to individuals by reinforcing their feelings, legitimising their thoughts and providing users with the ways and means to act on their contemplations. The sheer volume of material available online and the lack of immediate mental health support following an online search of this nature is astounding.
“To ensure more help and support is given to individuals searching for harmful content online, I set up R;pple.”
Alice’s background involves working in IT and Cyber Security, with experience in working for global financial institutions. She set up R;pple to ensure more help and support is given to individuals in mental health crisis and searching for harmful content online.
R;pple is a browser extension designed to intercept harmful content relating to self-harm and suicide. Free to download and available now, R;pple provides support and resources for people suffering poor mental health.
Launched in September 2021, R;pple provides an immediate interception on a user’s device a search relating to self-harm or suicide is conducted. The tool consists of a message of hope and a selection of mental health resources (call, text, webchat, self-help app, and pocket resources).
The tool comprises a message of hope and signposts to free support resources such as helplines, text services and webchats that are available 24/7from mental health charities.
The tool is useful for organisations that need to ensure privacy as the app does not 'track', 'monitor' or capture any personally identifiable information.
On average, 135 people are impacted every time somebody takes their own life (ONS). The ripple-effect is extensive, as Josh’s family and wider circle know only too well. Alice wanted to ensure individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and searching for self-harmful content online are offered hope and options for support when they need it.
R;pple has been created with evidence in mind. To develop the tool, the team worked collaboratively with mental health clinicians, professionals, NHS representatives, lived experience panels and the public.
Through R;pple, an individual feeling despair and researching harmful content will be urged to instead seek mental health support they deserve and need in a way that works best for them.
R;pple has been downloaded over 850,000 times since its launch in September 2021, with schools, colleges, universities, parents and charities able to download R;pple for free (with a donation required from businesses)
24 individuals have approached R;pple have informed R;pple so far that the tool intercepting them online at their most vulnerable point has saved their life and that they are now receiving mental health support.
R;pple has been won 17 awards in the IT, technology and mental health space since its launch.
R;pple is available to download as a ‘browser extension’. This can be done as an individual or as an organisation by installing the extension on all managed devices within a workplace network.
If you would like to support R;pple, they can be chosen as your charity partner and can be followed on LinkedIn.
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