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Original research
Public awareness of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline following the release of a hip-hop song
  1. Trevor Torgerson1,
  2. Cole Swayze1,
  3. Sara Sanghera1,
  4. Craig Cooper1,
  5. Jason Beaman2,3,
  6. Micah Hartwell1,
  7. Matt Vassar1
  1. 1Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
  2. 2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
  3. 3Department of Psychiatry, Oklahoma State University Medical Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Trevor Torgerson, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; trevor.torgerson{at}okstate.edu

Abstract

Objective In light of the current national mental health crisis, we use Google Trends, Twitter and data obtained from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to evaluate the effect of ‘1-800-273-8255’ on public awareness for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Design Cross-sectional analysis.

Main outcome measures We extracted data from Google Trends and Twitter for terms related to suicide following the release of Logic’s song, ‘1-800-273-8255’. We then used a forecasting autoregressive integrated moving algorithm model to determine the greater than expected search interest.

Results Google searches for ‘Suicide Hotline’ increased 49% more than expected the day after Logic’s song was released and sustained increase of queries resulted in an average relative search volume of 59.5%–9.1% higher than the mean forecasted value of 50.4% for the 28 days following the release. Tweets that engaged with the account ‘@800 273talk’ on Twitter increased by 10 450% more than expected the day after the song was released and increased by a mean of 1497% greater than expected the week after the songs released.

Conclusion Findings from our study suggest that the entertainment industry can play an important role in increasing awareness of hotline numbers. Logic’s song provides an example of a positive influence on public health and provides support for further development and standards for proper awareness of suicide in the public view.

  • psychiatry
  • mental health recovery
  • environmental health
  • public health

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2020-111509

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors Design and conception of the study was done by TT and MV. TT, CS, SS, CC, JB, MH and MV helped in writing and editing. Statistical analysis was performed by TT, MH and MV. Data collection was done by TT, CS and SS. Administration was done by TT and MV.

    • Funding Matt Vassar is funded through the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Research Integrity and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Data availability statement Data are available upon reasonable request.