R;pple's Expanded Protection Goes on General Release in the UK

Following a staged deployment, R;pple's expanded protection capabilities will become the standard offering for all R;pple Browser Extension users in the UK starting October 1st 2025.

Comprehensive support for more people in need

Originally designed to intervene in crisis-level suicide and self-harm searches, R;pple will now protect vulnerable individuals facing a broader range of mental health challenges and life struggles, including:

• Autism  

• Bereavement

• Divorce and separation

• Domestic abuse

• Eating disorders

• Financial struggles

• Gambling addiction

• Grooming

• LGBTIQA+ struggles

• Military to civilian transition

• Substance misuse

• Suicide and self-harm

When users conduct harmful searches related to these conditions and life challenges, the R;pple tool will redirect them to 24/7 helplines and support services tailored to their specific needs, providing timely intervention and support.

By expanding our protection, we will reach and protect more people before they reach a crisis point.

Built on evidence and lived experience

R;pple’s expanded protection was developed in close collaboration with more than 30 Advisory Board members - experts, practitioners, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges,  each specialising in different aspects of mental health. Their insights have been vital in shaping technology that not only meets industry and regulatory standards but also genuinely supports people when they are struggling.

This approach is grounded in evidence showing the close links between these challenges and suicide risk. For example:

• People with substance abuse are up to 14 times more likely to die by suicide. (Wilcox HC, Conner KR, Caine ED, et al)

• People with problem debt are 3 times more likely to have had recent suicidal thoughts (Money & Mental Health); problem gamblers are 15 times more likely to die by suicide (Lund University).   ‍

• One in eight (13%) adults experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings because of concerns about their body image. (Mental Health Foundation, 2019)

• Approximately 9% of all people with eating disorders report having serious thoughts of attempting suicide (Borges G, et al., 2010)  

• People who were sexually abused as a child were 3 times more likely to try to take their own lives. (Psychological Medicine, 2018)

• LGBTQ+ young people are more than 4 times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers (Johns et al., 2019; Johns et al., 2020).

Behind every statistic is a person who deserves timely, appropriate support - and R;pple’s role is to ensure they are never left alone at that critical moment.

What this means for users and organisations  

From October 1^st 2025 the expanded protection will be switched on automatically for all users of the R;pple Browser Extension in the UK:

• Individual users: Expanded protection will be automatically enabled. No action required.  

• Existing organisational customers: Expanded protection will be enabled automatically for all users. No action required.

• Organisations wishing to keep the previous configuration may opt out by contacting us at: info@ripplesuicideprevention.com before September 15^th 2025.

• New organisational customers: Expanded protection will be provided as the default setting. Opt-out options will be discussed during onboarding.

Expanding our impact

By making expanded protection our standard, R;pple can now reach even more people experiencing difficult life events and mental health struggles.

Together, we can make sure fewer people face their darkest moments alone.

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