Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Apr 23, 2024
Date Accepted: Dec 21, 2024
Formative Evaluation of Suicide prevention websites for men: Interviews with men at risk of suicide and focus groups with potential gatekeepers
ABSTRACT
Background:
The suicide rate among men exceeds that of women worldwide. In an interdisciplinary project on suicide prevention for men, two specific prevention measures were developed: a) a website to inform men at risk about suicide prevention, b) a website to educate potential gatekeepers who are in contact with suicidal males about appropriate life-saving measures. Both websites needed evaluation to measure how they are perceived by a) males and by b) potential gatekeepers of males with suicidal risk.
Objective:
Thus, the aim of the project was to analyze whether these websites were perceived as (1) understandable and appealing, (2) authentic and trustworthy, as well as (3) useful by (potential) users. Furthermore, we examined (4) additional ideas for effective communication about suicide prevention.
Methods:
We conducted a) individual online interviews with n = 24 men for the evaluation of the website and b) four focus groups with eight gatekeepers each (in sum n= 32) for the evaluation of the online education program. All participants were asked to evaluate the intervention materials using a fictitious scenario of a man in mental health crisis before the interviews/ focus groups took place.
Results:
The videos were perceived as (1) catchy, comprehensible and empathetic, but too long for a short introduction. A balanced mix of emotional and informative content was considered appropriate and helpful. The health information were perceived as (2) serious and trustworthy due to the naming of scientific institutions and video material of males with suicidal experiences. (3) The applicability in acute crisis situations was questioned, but for comprehensive information it was regarded as very useful. (4) Further communication channels and gender identities were presented as possible extensions of the program.
Conclusions:
Effective suicide prevention research targets both the groups at risk and their support network. Digital communication interventions can provide low-threshold access. Videos with exemplars constitute important identification figures for emotional and esteem support, while videos with experts provide relevant and credible information.
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