‘Stay Alive’ Suicide Prevention App Translated into Scandinavian Languages
The award-winning ‘Stay Alive’ suicide prevention app for smartphone and tablets is coming to Scandinavia, with a recent translation into Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish. It provides support to people who are thinking about suicide or those who want to support someone at risk.
The Stay Alive app was the first of its kind to offer UK-wide information on where to get help, alongside a range of tools and information to help users stay safe from suicide. It has been developed by UK charity Grassroots Suicide Prevention and the translations have been funded through a partnership with the charity Breakeven, who provide free specialist counselling to anyone affected by problem gambling. Recent research from Sweden shows that problem gamblers have a 15 times higher risk of suicide than the general population. The partnership between Grassroots and Breakeven has developed through a shared vision of preventing suicide in their communities.
Stay Alive is a pocket suicide prevention resource whose user is only a few presses away from crisis support, up-to-date resources, guidance and interactive tools to support suicide prevention. The app is highly customisable: as well as links to services, the app includes a ‘LifeBox’ section where you can upload life-affirming pictures and a mini-safety plan for use in a crisis. Other features include a myth-busting section about suicide, research-based reasons for living, and useful information and strategies about what to do if you have thoughts of suicide. Since its launch in 2014 the app has been downloaded over 75,000 times, won several awards, and has had 12,000 active users over the last 3 months.
Stella Comber, Chief Executive of Grassroots, said:
“We are excited to be partnering with Breakeven South to bring the Grassroots ‘Stay Alive’ app to Scandinavia. We know the powerful impact it has had in the UK, and we want to share it with the world. We hope that these are the first of many translations. Importantly, through this partnership we want to draw urgent attention to the devastating impact that problem gambling has on people’s lives, leaving them broken and without hope. But recovery is possible, and it starts with talking. We urge anyone affected to reach out and seek help. We aim to equip everyone in our communities with the skills and resources needed to save lives.”
Responding to the launch of the Stay Alive app, Ian Semel, Chief Executive of Breakeven, said:
“Breakeven are very honoured to support Grassroots in offering their Stay Alive app to Scandinavia. We understand that gambling is a social health issue when it becomes a problem, and we need to provide as much support as we can.”
App information:
App Name: Stay Alive
Developers: Grassroots Suicide Prevention, and Switchplane
Launch Date: February 15th, 2019
Cost: Free
Category: Education, Self-Help, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle & Medical
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download the ‘Stay Alive’ suicide prevention app (Click through the buttons below):
Grassroots Suicide Prevention (www.prevent-suicide.org.uk / www.realtalk.community) is a UK leader in suicide prevention. We help to create safe spaces in the community for Real Talk about suicide and support people in our communities to become ChangeMakers: to develop the skills and confidence needed to save lives.
Breakeven (www.breakeven.org.uk) Breakeven provide free specialist counselling to anyone affected by problem gambling, whether they gamble themselves or are affected by the gambling of a family member or friend. They can provide male or female counsellors, are completely confidential, and abide by the BACP Code of Ethics and Practice.
Switchplane (www.switchplane.com) is a digital agency based in Eastbourne.