Exploring young people’s experiences of a text-based support service: a qualitative analysis of the support that young people think is important in a suicidal crisis

Suicide is a global health priority. In the UK, suicidal ideation is highest in young people. Therefore, it is vital that suicide prevention resources, such as support services, are suited to young people to support their wellbeing. Therefore, this study aimed to explore young people’s experiences of using Shout, a UK text-based support service, when experiencing suicidal thoughts. Ten participants (18–25 years old) were recruited to the study. During each interview, participant demographic and health information were collected, followed by an audio recorded, semi-structured interview. Interviews explored participants’ most recent experience of contacting Shout in response to thoughts of suicide. Qualitative data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and three overarching themes were identified: service availability, receiving a person-centred approach and solution-focused support. Together, these themes indicate that young people value timely, personable support from text-based support services where proactive solutions for the future are identified collaboratively. This study adds to the research landscape on digital suicide prevention highlighting the importance of text-based support services conveying hope and a solutions-focused approach when supporting young people experiencing distress.