AQPS: Advancing Suicide Prevention Through a Digital Platform

For over five years, suicide.ca has delivered a proven omnichannel experience in suicide prevention. It stands as the leading digital resource at the provincial level.

Built on scientific research in suicide prevention, this ecosystem is designed to support multiple affected groups, including individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, their loved ones, and those bereaved by suicide.

To reach these populations, we developed an information, support, and prevention website, along with digital tools, a mobile application, a live chat service, and a discussion forum for people grieving a suicide.

 

Expanding access points for suicide prevention

The “Mes Outils” platform

Designed as a true suite of interactive well-being tools, the “Mes Outils” multichannel digital experience supports individuals with suicidal thoughts by encouraging them to care for their mental health and adopt habits that promote well-being, helping them through difficult moments.

The platform also allows users to keep a journal, practice breathing exercises to calm themselves, and access digital intervention services via chat or text during moments of distress.

New features have been gradually added, including the ability to set small, concrete goals and “small steps” to stay active and track daily progress, as well as the display of inspirational quotes to foster hope and motivation. A customizable safety plan helps users navigate moments of crisis with tailored steps to de-escalate situations and ensure their safety. In addition, a self-assessment tool enables users to evaluate their psychological well-being and identify symptoms associated with common mental health conditions. All tools are based on recognized mental health approaches.

Since the beginning of our collaboration, we have strategically supported the AQPS in making the right decisions for its platform and the people it aims to reach. An initial mobile application was developed to meet early needs. To expand the offering and reach a broader audience, the approach was later redesigned into a unified platform, increasing entry points and amplifying impact.

The Mes Outils platform was therefore designed with a mobile-first approach while remaining fully accessible on desktop. This evolution reflects a broader focus on user experience, ensuring simple, fast, and consistent access for those in need.

 

Live chat support

Because crisis situations require immediate responses, we developed, in addition to existing crisis lines, a live chat and text-based intervention website accessible at all times across Quebec, on both mobile and desktop.

Recognizing that spoken and written communication differ, we adopted an approach involving internal testing, questionnaires, triage systems, and service mapping methods to better support intervention staff.

 

The “Vivre un deuil par suicide” Forum

To better support those grieving a suicide, the AQPS partnered with Wepoint to create a secure and accessible forum. After identifying needs and reviewing existing solutions, the Discourse platform was selected and configured to provide:

  • Notification system
  • Organized discussions
  • Advanced search tool
  • Accessibility
  • Moderation
 

Building the technology framework

An in-depth discovery phase helped address the needs and contexts of individuals affected by suicide, mental health professionals, and frontline workers. Clinical user experience, grounded in scientific research, was aligned with digital user experience to create a seamless, safe, and user-centered journey.

After five years of experience, we are now able to challenge clinical UX. We can merge both approaches and ensure that version 2 of suicide.ca delivers an optimized user experience. In 2020, we started from clinical theory and anticipated digital behaviors. Today, we can combine both.

—Kathy Laramée, Director of Digital Strategy and Services (AQPS)

At the start of the project, AQPS did not have a technological environment or project management structure in place. Our experts supported the organization in building this foundation.

Special attention was given to the sensitivity of the issues and data, resulting in a digital ecosystem that meets the highest standards of security, confidentiality, and reliability.

Content strategy

Our content strategy helped define a structure tailored to the diverse needs of people affected by suicide. A writing guide was also developed to simplify and optimize scientific content for the web, making it easier to navigate.

Today, this strategy drives 50% of traffic through search engines. AQPS effectively positions itself on keywords related to suicide prevention, enabling users to find reliable and relevant information.

 

Results

The suicide.ca website and the Mes Outils platform we developed for AQPS play a major role in suicide prevention in Quebec.

Five years after launch, key figures include:

  • 1.5M visits to suicide.ca
  • 90,000 interventions via chat and text
  • 14,000 users of the Mes Outils app
  • 450 members on the deuilparsuicide.ca forum (launched in 2023)

In 2021, the suicide.ca project received the OCTAS Culture and Society Award, the Excellence Award, and the People’s Choice Award at the annual OCTAS ceremony organized by Réseau Action TI.

 

Technologies

  • User interface: ASP.NET, React
  • Customer relationship management (CRM): Microsoft Dynamics
  • Web development: Microsoft Azure
 

About the Quebec Association for Suicide Prevention (AQPS)

AQPS is involved in all aspects of suicide prevention in Quebec. Founded in 1986, this nonprofit organization works to mobilize stakeholders, support communities, equip professionals, raise public awareness, and influence decision-makers to prevent suicide.

Its vision: building a suicide-free Quebec.