Changes in Suicide Ideation Among Users of Online Gatekeeping Using Search-Based Advertising

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Digital Health
• Suicidology

Background:

• Online gatekeeping, advertising suicide prevention services to individuals searching for related terms, is a novel intervention.
• The effectiveness of this digital suicide prevention strategy remains largely unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the effectiveness of online gatekeeping in reducing suicidal ideation.
• To evaluate an email-based consultation service for suicide prevention among Japanese internet users.

Main Methods:

• A non-randomized, single-arm study involving 167 Japanese internet users who utilized an online gatekeeping service.
• Suicidal ideation was measured at baseline (T1) and approximately four weeks later (T2) using validated assessments.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in the mean score of suicidal ideation was observed from T1 to T2.
• The effect size for the reduction in suicidal ideation was small to medium (d = 0.37).
• Participants were predominantly women (approx. 80%) and young adults (59.3% in their twenties or younger).

Conclusions:

• Online gatekeeping demonstrates potential as an effective suicide prevention tool.
• Further research, including randomized controlled trials, is necessary to confirm these findings and establish robust evidence.