How Big Data and Text Messaging Can Prevent Suicide Around the World
According to the World Health Organization 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. My guest today, Bob Filbin is helping to pioneer a way to sharply reduce that number.
Bob Filbin is the Chief Data Scientist of Crisis Text Line. This is a text based mental health crisis intervention platform, operational in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Individuals in crisis are able to text trained mental health workers anonymously, who can then help them through their emergency.
Hundreds of millions of texts have been exchanged since the launch of crisis text line, which is providing researchers with key insights into how to prevent self harm.
Mental health is a crucial public health issue that is, indeed, a global heath issue. Crisis Text Line's approach is also scalable -- and Bob Filbin does discuss crisis text line's global plans.
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