Perceptions of Helpful and Unhelpful Responses to Disclosures of Suicidality in a Sample of Mobile App Users

Assessment and management of suicide risk is dependent on the individual at risk disclosing their suicidal thoughts. This study analyzed self-reported data collected via Youper, a mental-health app, to explore user experiences with suicide-related disclosure.

2,952 international users who endorsed suicidal ideation reported on experiences with suicide-related disclosure. Differences in experiences were examined according to age, gender, and symptoms of psychopathology.

Just over half of users (56.17%) shared their suicidal thoughts. The primary reason for not sharing was thinking others would not understand. Of those who had disclosed their suicidal thoughts, 56.31% perceived the listener's response to be helpful, with listening and expressing care identified as most helpful. More severe depression and generalized anxiety symptoms were associated with higher disclosure likelihood, whereas higher borderline-personality and social-anxiety symptoms were associated with lower disclosure likelihood. Perceptions of what users found helpful when they disclosed suicidality varied by gender. Lack of understanding was the most frequently reported unhelpful response universally.

Findings suggest that listening and expressing care should be prioritized to maximize suicidal individuals' experiences of feeling supported. That said, gender and symptoms impact likelihoods of and experiences with disclosure, which should be considered when receiving suicide-related disclosure.HIGHLIGHTSNearly half of users shared suicidal thoughts and found listener responses helpful.Users most often endorsed listening as helpful and not understanding as unhelpful.Symptom severity and gender informed suicide-related disclosure experiences.