Young, Male and Feeling Suicidal in Ireland: Is Help or Harm Just One Click Away?

Reports suggest an association between internet use and the elevated risk of suicide and self harm. This study examined the resources a suicidal person might find when searching the internet 'front page' for help. Voluntary suicide help websites accounted for 7/12 front page hits. The National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) and the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), a blog and a newspaper article made up the remainder. Sites were difficult to navigate and highly variable in content. Phone credit was required in many cases in order to contact helplines; opening hours and locations were limited. Most statutory websites referred help-seekers to the voluntary sector, mainly the Samaritans. Information on fundraising and volunteering competed with other sources of help. Of concern, the front page also included links to methods to complete suicide. Irish professional medical bodies offered very limited advice. Our findings suggest that online information is variable and potentially harmful. There is an opportunity for all agencies and providers to generate a co-ordinated internet front page tailored for at-risk groups.