Assessing Suicide Attempts and Depression Among Chinese Speakers Over the Internet

Abstract

Background In populations where mental health resources are scarce or unavailable, or where stigma prevents help-seeking, the Internet may be a way to identify and reach at-risk persons using self-report validated screening tools as well as to characterize individuals seeking health information online. Aims We examined the feasibility of delivering an Internet-based Chinese-language depression and suicide screener and described its users. Method An Internet-based depression and suicide screener was created and advertised primarily through Google AdWords. Participants completed a suicide and depression screening measure and received individualized feedback, which, if necessary, included the suggestion to seek additional mental health resources. Results In 7 months, 11,631 individuals visited the site; 4,709 provided valid information. Nearly half reported a current major depressive episode (MDE) and 18.3% a recent suicide attempt; however, over 75% reported never having sought help, including 77.7% of those with MDEs and 75.9% of those reporting a suicide attempt. As participants found the site by searching for depression information online, results may not generalize to the entire Chinese-speaking population. Conclusion Online screening can feasibly identify and reach many at-risk Chinese-speaking persons. It may provide resources to those with limited access to services or to those reluctant to seek such services.

Digital technology for treating and preventing mental disorders in low-income and middle-income countries: a narrative review of the literature

“…Online self-help programmes can provide on-demand access to resources and supportive online communities, while offering a discrete and anonymous method for seeking support. We found 13 studies 46–58 of online self-help programmes for mental disorders (table 4), which included pilot studies, randomised controlled trials, and naturalistic studies of evidence-based psychoeducation or cognitive behavioural therapy programmes adapted for delivery through online platforms for depression or anxiety disorders among individuals in Mexico, 46–48 Romania, 49,50 China, 51,52 and Malaysia, 52 as well as Russian-speaking populations. 53 Attrition rates in these studies were high, ranging from 13% to nearly 95%.…”

“…An online programme for Chinese-speaking populations was also used to identify individuals at risk of suicide or depression, deliver suicide prevention content, and support coping among these individuals. 52 These studies offer promise for use of online platforms to provide on-demand support for individuals with mental disorders, but efforts are needed to identify effective strategies to promote programme engagement and prevent attrition.…”

Using Digital Media Advertising in Early Psychosis Intervention

“…This type of digital marketing strategy has been used to efficiently broaden the reach of traditional, community-based public health campaigns (10). From a mental health perspective, recruitment campaigns using Google AdWords have demonstrated success in encouraging research participation (11)(12)(13) and have been shown to be less expensive and more effective than traditional outreach (14,15).…”

Current needs for the improved management of depressive disorder in community healthcare centres, Shenzhen, China: a view from primary care medical leaders

“…Recent investigations focus on determining the effectiveness of mental health teleconferences in high-income countries [63, 64] with web-based depression screening programs increasingly being tested for use in general practice [65]. Digital technologies overall, offer potential to reduce the mental health treatment gap in low-income countries [66] including internet-based tools to provide cognitive behavioral therapy [67] and assess suicide risk in China [67, 68].…”