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Detecting changes in help seeker conversations on a suicide prevention helpline during the COVID− 19 pandemic: in-depth analysis using encoder representations from transformers

Overview of attention for article published in BMC Public Health, March 2022
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Title
Detecting changes in help seeker conversations on a suicide prevention helpline during the COVID− 19 pandemic: in-depth analysis using encoder representations from transformers
Published in
BMC Public Health, March 2022
DOI 10.1186/s12889-022-12926-2
Pubmed ID
Authors

Salim Salmi, Saskia Mérelle, Renske Gilissen, Rob van der Mei, Sandjai Bhulai

Abstract

Preventatives measures to combat the spread of COVID- 19 have introduced social isolation, loneliness and financial stress. This study aims to identify whether the COVID-19 pandemic is related to changes in suicide-related problems for help seekers on a suicide prevention helpline. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using chat data from a suicide prevention helpline in the Netherlands. The natural language processing method BERTopic was used to detect common topics in messages from December 1, 2019 until June 1, 2020 (N = 8589). Relative topic occurrence was compared before and during the lock down starting on March 23, 2020. The observed changes in topic usage were likewise analyzed for male and female, younger and older help seekers and help seekers living alone. The topic of the COVID-19 pandemic saw an 808% increase in relative occurrence after the lockdown. Furthermore, the results show that help seeker increased mention of thanking the counsellor (+ 15%), and male and young help seekers were grateful for the conversation (+ 45% and + 32% respectively). Coping methods such as watching TV (- 21%) or listening to music (- 15%) saw a decreased mention. Plans for suicide (- 9%) and plans for suicide at a specific location (- 15%) also saw a decreased mention. However, plans for suicide were mentioned more frequently by help seekers over 30 years old (+ 11%) or who live alone and (+ 52%). Furthermore, male help seekers talked about contact with emergency care (+ 43%) and panic and anxiety (+ 24%) more often. Negative emotions (+ 22%) and lack of self-confidence (+ 15%) were mentioned more often by help seekers under 30, and help seekers over 30 saw an increased mention of substance abuse (+ 9%). While mentions of distraction, social interaction and plans for suicide decreased, expressions of gratefulness for the helpline increased, highlighting the importance of contact to help seekers during the lockdown. Help seekers under 30, male or who live alone, showed changes that negatively related to suicidality and should be monitored closely.

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Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 40 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 40 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 8 20%
Student > Doctoral Student 3 8%
Researcher 2 5%
Student > Bachelor 2 5%
Other 1 3%
Other 2 5%
Unknown 22 55%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Computer Science 3 8%
Nursing and Health Professions 3 8%
Social Sciences 2 5%
Engineering 2 5%
Psychology 2 5%
Other 4 10%
Unknown 24 60%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 1. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 24 March 2022.
All research outputs
#20,802,848
of 23,408,972 outputs
Outputs from BMC Public Health
#14,268
of 15,237 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#385,710
of 469,109 outputs
Outputs of similar age from BMC Public Health
#439
of 479 outputs
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