systematic review overview: online preventive interventions for suicidal ideation/behavior

Online preventive interventions can play a vital role in addressing suicidal ideation and behavior by providing accessible, flexible, and often immediate support. as technology and mental health care continue to evolve, these interventions will likely become an integral part of comprehensive mental health strategies. this overview synthesizes the findings from systematic reviews concerning the effectiveness of online preventive interventions for suicide ideation and behavior in the past decade. a systematic search was conducted using narrative synthesis across eight electronic databases, focusing on peer-reviewed systematic reviews published from 2014 to july 2024. the overview included data from 17 systematic reviews, which collectively encompassed 247 unique studies. analysis of the systematic reviews revealed four main themes: theoretical frameworks of interventions, digital modalities, support mechanisms, and demographic gaps. these themes underscored the various approaches and contexts in which online interventions are implemented and their varying impacts on suicide prevention. the findings indicate the potential of online interventions in enhancing suicide prevention efforts. however, they also reveal inconsistencies in efficacy, underscoring the urgent need for empirical evaluation and methodological standardization. ongoing research is essential to refine these interventions to effectively meet the diverse needs of individuals at risk of suicide. future studies should emphasize methodological rigor and consistency to bolster evidence-based practices in online suicide prevention initiatives.