R;pple: Saving lives through innovative online interception

On 25 November 2020 Alice Hendy lost her only sibling, her brother Josh, to suicide at 21 years old. Josh had been researching techniques to take his own life via harmful internet searches. The content available online following a search of this nature currently provides mental health support in one format - a helpline. To ensure more help and support is given to individuals searching for harmful content online, Alice set up R;pple Suicide Prevention.

During this session, Alice will provide an overview of R;pple's overarching purpose: preventing self-harm and suicide through intuitive technology.

R;pple is a digital tool, which if a user searches for harmful content online, they will first be guided through a filter of breathing exercises and then very simple, uncluttered and calmly presented strategies and forums, helplines and mental health services they can access both now and longer-term: accompanied with messages of hope and encouragement to keep safe.

Alice hopes you can support her mission to get people the mental health support they need at a time when they are most vulnerable.

The Impact:

• To date, R;pple has been downloaded over 850,000 times (free for schools, colleges, universities, parents, carers and charities, fee required from businesses)
• R;pple has now been 'triggered' 4,500 times, meaning it has intercepted 4,500 people from harmful online searches
• 24 people have approached R;pple to inform them that the tool intercepted online at their most vulnerable point and saved their life

If you are struggling with your mental health and are UK based, please contact the following 24/7 services:

Samaritans - Call 116 123

Shout - Text 85258

Please contact Gemma Warren (07436 263847) with any queries regarding this event.

You will be sent a confirmation email shortly after booking. If you have not received this within one hour, please contact Flora Simpson (020 7397 3912).