Stigma to Support: R;pple Launches Across Cameroon

Today we’re proud to announce that R;pple has launched across leading educational institutions in Cameroon. This marks a major step forward in our mission to offer hope and support to those who need it most – no matter where they live.

With seven institutions now onboarded, R;pple has become the first digital crisis intervention tool of its kind to be deployed across the country.

This milestone shows that R;pple can break down geographical barriers and improve access to support online anywhere in the world. In this article you’ll learn more about the launch and discover how you can deploy R;pple within any education provider for free.

A digitally connected nation

With over 12 million internet users and widespread mobile access across the country, Cameroon is a digitally connected nation¹. Young people are active online, but mental health resources and safeguarding tools remain relatively rare: The WHO reports that Cameroon has fewer than two mental health workers per 100,000 people².  

And, sadly, nearly one in five young people in Cameroon reported suicidal thoughts, with many experiencing anxiety, depression, or substance-related issues³. In many of these cases, help is neither sought nor available due to stigma, lack of awareness, or limited services.

Deploying R;pple in Cameroon

To deploy in a new country, R;pple was given invaluable support from local experts like SAFE⁴ (Cyber Safety for Teens and Youths in Cameroon).

SAFE’s mission is to equip young people with the tools they need to navigate the online world safely. R;pple is now an integral part of that toolkit.

"When we learned about R;pple and its life-saving work in suicide prevention, it became clear that a partnership could bring vital impact to youths across Cameroon.  

"This collaboration means young people are no longer alone when navigating moments of crisis online, they now have an extra layer of digital protection and support. We believe this marks a significant step forward in our commitment to holistic online safety and mental health awareness for teens and youths alike," adds Linda Bawa, CEO at SAFE.

The tool is now live and in use across seven Cameroonian institutions:

• Higher Institute of Transport and Logistics
• P.N.E.U
• Fomic Polytechnic University
• Dunamis Higher Institute
• Higher Institute of Professional Excellence
• University Institute of Gulf of Guinea
• The Brains University

Installed on school-owned computers and devices, R;pple intercepts harmful searches and signposts users to support before they reach unsafe content.

As we grow, our aim is to expand the reach of the R;pple tool to more educational institutions across Cameroon, and to introduce it to other African nations and territories, helping to create a safer online space for students and to inspire a positive change across the continent.

Bring R;pple to your organisation

Installing the R;pple tool across workplace devices and Wi-Fi networks provides a vital lifeline at the very moment someone may be struggling in silence.

“The widespread deployment of the R;pple tool in education is incredibly important because it introduces more young people to support instead of harm. Simply put, the more devices equipped with R;pple, the more lives we can save over time.

Our collaborative project with SAFE in Cameroon demonstrates how safeguarding resources like R;pple can create a powerful, far-reaching positive impact. Education is meant to enrich lives and prepare individuals for a successful future, yet far too many extraordinary individuals who had so much to offer society are tragically lost to suicide each year.

I hope education providers around the world are inspired by the work we are doing at R;pple, and that we see even more countries joining our community,” adds Sam Smith, Education Advocate & Develpoment Manager at R;pple.

If an individual searches for flagged keywords or phrases related to self-harm or suicide the tool intercepts the search and signposts to free, 24/7 mental health support.

R;pple is already in action across millions of devices and 50 countries and territories – including Cameroon. We work closely with experts to localise our service and ensure that we signpost to the best regional helplines and support at the right time. Install the tool – with our support – free in your educational institution today.

The R;pple tool is also available to businesses and public-sector organisations at a subscription model. This allows us to drive our mission and ensure the tool is free for individuals, families, educational establishments and charitable organisations. Get in touch now to discover R;pple.

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Sources:

1.  Digital Cameroon Report, DataReportal

2. Mental Health Atlas (2020), WHO

3. Ngum et al. (2021): Mental health problems among adolescents and youth in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03197-0

4. SAFE, LinkedIn