distrACT

About distrACT

Concerned about self-harming? Feeling suicidal? Not sure what to do next? Then this app is for you.

The distrACT app provides easy, quick and discreet access to general health information and advice about self-harm. While the app is mainly aimed at young people in the UK, those living in other parts of the world may also find it useful.

Aims of this app:

► SUICIDE PREVENTION: Help reduce the risk of suicides in people who self-harm
► CRISIS SUPPORT: Provide support in a crisis - with advice on how to access help in an emergency, lists of useful emergency numbers and support sites, and tips for safety planning
► SIGNPOSTING: Guide people who self-harm to further sources of support
► SELF-CARE: Encourage self-monitoring strategies and self-management of symptoms
► HEALTH LITERACY: Increase knowledge and understanding of self-harm and related issues
► PRACTICAL SUPPORT: Give practical tips and provide ideas for safer alternatives to self-harm
► STIGMA: Reduce stigma and dispel myths about self-harm
► RESILIENCE: Help people develop skills to build resilience and increase well-being
► ACCESSING HEALTH SERVICES: Support decisions around accessing health services and other means of support

Open the app and find the following sections with reliable answers to your questions in plain language – anywhere, anytime, and in private:

► ABOUT SELF-HARM: Check out what self-harm is, why people self-harm, and how to spot the warning signs
► SELF-HELP: Learn how to identify your needs, manage the urge to self-harm and use safer alternatives
► SUPPORT: Find out about how to get support, where to go for further help, and what to say
► CHILL ZONE: Discover new resources that may help you feel better when you're struggling or feeling tense, including art, books, films, music, poems, quotes, stories and online videos
► EMERGENCY: Know what to do in an emergency, how to access help and how best to work together with health professionals

The distrACT app has been created by practising medical doctors together with young adults and experts in self-harm and suicide prevention. Our partners include Bristol Health Partners, Self-Injury Support, Self-Injury Self Help, the University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Bristol, as well as other local and national organisations.

Expert Self Care Ltd (the app's developer) is a UK Social Enterprise certified by the NHS England Information Standard as a provider of reliable health information.

We have more health apps for young people in the pipeline. To stay tuned, like us on facebook (www.facebook.com/expertselfcare), follow us on twitter (www.twitter.com/expertselfcare) and sign up for news through our website (http://www.expertselfcare.com/news/).

We would like to improve this app further if we can, and so we'd appreciate if you could give us feedback. You can do this from within the app, or via our website at www.expertselfcare.com.

If you decide to download distrACT, we would appreciate it if you could take time to comment on and rate the distrACT app on the App Store to give other people information about whether they may want to download the app too.

Thank you!