Abstract / Summary
Background: #chatsafe is a programme aiming to empower young people to communicate safely on social media about self-harm and suicide. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and impact associated with attending a #chatsafe participatory workshop, using the #chatsafe Youth Participation Model. The workshops aimed to educate young people on safe communication practices and gather their insights to inform new #chatsafe social media intervention content.
Methods: Quantitative data were collected in a pre- and post-workshop survey using bespoke items measuring perceived feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the workshops, and self-efficacy in communicating online about suicide. Qualitative data were collected during the workshop (via participant feedback, field notes, audio recordings, and facilitator debriefing notes) and in open-text responses in the post-workshop survey.
Results: Nine workshops were held with 107 participants (age M = 19.7 years, SD = 2.7 years). Two thirds (64.5%) reported lifetime suicidal thoughts. Eighty-seven (81.3%) completed both the pre- and post-workshop survey. Feedback was positive, with 94.3% of participants reporting satisfaction with the workshop, 96.5% reported enjoying the workshop, and no adverse events were recorded. There was a significant increase in confidence when communicating online about suicide following participation in a #chatsafe workshop, z = -5.99, p < 0.001. Workshop insights informed two national Australian #chatsafe Instagram campaigns, that reached 950,000 young people and 818,000 young people respectively.
Conclusions: The #chatsafe workshops were highly feasible, acceptable, safe, and led to young people feeling better equipped to communicate safely online about suicide. To further encourage the involvement of young people in the design of suicide prevention, mental health, and similar initiatives, a #chatsafe Youth Participation Toolkit is publicly available for other researchers and outlines the steps taken to plan, conduct, and translate the outcomes of such workshops.
Lived experience or public contribution: This study summarises the views of 87 young people who attended a #chatsafe participatory workshop and provided feedback. The #chatsafe Youth Participation Toolkit was also shaped by seven workshop participants who attended a subsequent focus group, which focused on what recommendations the researchers should share with others who wish to use these participatory methods in the future.