Breaking Down Barriers to a Suicide Prevention Helpline: Web-Based Randomized Controlled Trial

This trial was the first time the helpline was able to connect with high-risk website visitors who were hesitant to contact the helpline. Although the BRI could not ensure that those respondents immediately used the direct link to the helpline at the end of the trial, it is encouraging that respondents indicated that they were more likely to contact the helpline at a later point in time. In addition, this low-cost intervention provided greater insight into the perceived barriers to service. Follow-up research should be focused on identifying the added value of other components (eg, video or photo material) in the BRI and increasing its effectiveness, especially for men and middle-aged people.