Helper therapy in an online suicide prevention community

Individuals who feel comfortable using Internet-based communication often seek help online when they are feeling distressed. This study examines an online community formed to provide support for distressed adolescents. Content analysis revealed themes in a series of online postings from youth who were experiencing suicidal thoughts. Youth help-seekers wrote about their purposes for seeking help. Trained crisis-intervention moderators provided social support and referrals to offline services. Over time, help-seekers began to provide support for other help-seekers, developing a community characterised by reciprocal help-seeking and help-providing. Adolescents in this study experienced the online community as an anonymous place to express their reasons for seeking help, receive support and engage in helping to support others.