2. LIFELINE ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS Amanda Lehner Online Communications Manager National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) alehner@mhaofnyc.org

3. Seeking Health Information Online The Pew Internet Project says: People turn to the internet for health information when the stakes are high and the connection needs to be fast. That between 75% and 80% of internet users have looked online for health information. One in five internet users has looked for mental health information. 3

4. Social Media Free and easy to use Viral: Word of mouth referrals, increased visibility Facilitating a conversation, disseminating information and promoting change Creates a community of supporters-- identify, engage and commit Radical transparency = approachability Perceived anonymity= reaching out

5. Lifeline Online Communications Lifeline Website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org Blog: www.crisiscentersblog.comwww.crisiscentersblog.com Social Networking Sites Lifeline Gallery: www.lifelinegallery.org

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7. Lifeline Online Communications – Social Media MySpace - 3,000 friends: www.myspace.com/800273TALK www.myspace.com/800273TALK YouTube - Over 25,000 views: www.youtube.com/800273TALK www.youtube.com/800273TALK Facebook - 1,700 fans: www.facebook.com/800273TALK www.facebook.com/800273TALK Twitter - 470 followers: www.twitter.com/800273TALK www.twitter.com/800273TALK 7

8. Online Partnerships MySpace – outreach, resource and donated ads Facebook – outreach, resource YouTube – resource, Google Grants Help.com – automated response

9. Lifeline Website Traffic In Q4 2008 average monthly unique visitors (160,683) increased 117 percent compared to Q4 2007 (74,041).

10. Lifeline Traffic Sources 2008

11. Online Crisis Lifeline defines "online crisis" as someone in suicidal crisis who is reaching out online, or someone who knows a friend (and sometimes stranger) that is threatening suicide online Lifeline receives online crisis reports via: Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, Lifeline Gallery, and Lifeline website Respond according to Online Crisis Protocol: Person is helped via email 11

12. Online Postvention Work with community and schools to post resources on profiles of the deceased Use existing social network to identify and reach the network most affected by the death View comments to identify people at risk 12

13. In the News 13

14. Current Challenges People reaching out online are given hotline # –Some do not want to call –There is no way to track how many are calling the hotline No online standards or best practices Online crises increasing, no resources 14

15. Future Opportunities Increase visibility of services on the internet, raise awareness Link up with other health services and mental health services to build and connect an online network of care Offer online support: –Online crisis chat, online warning signs, online natural gatekeepers training Evaluation and research