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Assessing suicide attempts and depression among Chinese speakers over the Internet
Nancy H Liu1, Omar Contreras2, Ricardo F Muñoz3
1<location>Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA</location> <location>Department of Psychiatry, San Francisco General Hospital, CA, USA</location>
Background:
In populations where mental health resources are scarce or unavailable, or where stigma prevents help-seeking, the Internet may be a way to identify and reach at-risk persons using self-report validated screening tools as well as to characterize individuals seeking health information online.
Aims:
We examined the feasibility of delivering an Internet-based Chinese-language depression and suicide screener and described its users.
Method:
An Internet-based depression and suicide screener was created and advertised primarily through Google AdWords. Participants completed a suicide and depression screening measure and received individualized feedback, which, if necessary, included the suggestion to seek additional mental health resources.
Results:
In 7 months, 11,631 individuals visited the site; 4,709 provided valid information. Nearly half reported a current major depressive episode (MDE) and 18.3% a recent suicide attempt; however, over 75% reported never having sought help, including 77.7% of those with MDEs and 75.9% of those reporting a suicide attempt. As participants found the site by searching for depression information online, results may not generalize to the entire Chinese-speaking population.
Conclusion:
Online screening can feasibly identify and reach many at-risk Chinese-speaking persons. It may provide resources to those with limited access to services or to those reluctant to seek such services.