Now, app to tackle high suicide rate among youth

Sydney, Sep 8: Australian researchers are developing a smartphone app to stop the escalating rate of indigenous youth suicide. The app will facilitate referral of the young person to local liaison officers and other government or non-government support agencies.

"We will design, develop and distribute an iOS and Android app through iTunes and Google's android market to support the implementation of the gatekeeper training," Maree Toombs, a researcher from the University of Queensland's school of medicine, was quoted as saying.

A community led training programme linking health providers, community members, peers, school leaders and mentors as gatekeepers will run along side the app, Brisbane Times reported.

A gatekeeper is anyone within a community who is in a position to recognise the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide.

"Gatekeepers and a smartphone app are the keys to tackling indigenous youth suicide by providing accessible help to the at-risk youth," Toombs added.