North east suicide prevention app accessed 13,000 times since March

Phone - Image credit: Pexels

An app aimed at preventing suicides in the north east has been used more than 13,000 times since it was launched at the end of March.

The Prevent Suicide app allows people to access information without having to engage directly with mental health services.

As well as giving the user access to a range of relevant support organisations, it also allows them to write their own safety plan to help them through times when they are at increased risk of suicide.

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Funding for the app was provided by NHS Grampian with support from Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Moray Council.

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Choose Life co-ordinator Iain Murray said: “The number of people accessing the app proves there is a real need for this in the north-east of Scotland.

“It has also coincided with a drop in the number of suicides in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire which is very welcome.”

Recent figures have shown a 27 per cent decrease in the number of suicides in Aberdeen this year, and a 16 per cent decrease in Aberdeenshire.

This year also saw a 12-week period where there were no suicides at all in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire.

Money has been donated by a number of people and groups to the project for online adverts, which will signpost people to help if they type certain phrases.

Posts highlighting the app will also appear on Facebook over the Christmas and New Year period.

Murray said: “We are aware that this is a difficult time of year for many people, and the important message to anyone struggling is that help is just one click or phone call away.”