StopBlues: a French e-health device to prevent suicide in the general population

Abstract

Background and aims.- France is one of the Western European countries most affected by suicide, an epidemiological burden associated with a high societal cost of several million euros per year. Several European projects have either implemented web-based interventions for care of mental disorders associated with suicide or recommended online actions which have demonstrated their effectiveness for suicide prevention. The objective of the project was the construction of an application and website to prevent suicide in the general population, with its promotion being supported by local authorities and general practitioners (GPs). Methods.- The detailed content of the devices and promotional tools to be made available to local authorities and GPs was determined through literature reviews and focus groups with experts (psychiatrists, local authorities' workers) and potential users. Results.- An application and a website were constructed with two parts: a public interface with videos about psychological suffering, coping strategies and the help available, and a private interface which requires registration and gives access to a map with local resources and contact information (psychiatrists, psychologists, associations. . .), mental health questionnaires, a safety plan to fill in case of crisis, an emergency button, and many tips and videos to overcome a period of psychological suffering (see Fig. 1). Conclusions.- StopBlues can be downloaded on iOs and Android stores, and is available at www.stopblues.fr. Forty local authorities are involved in StopBlues promotion.