Webwatch: New ‘friendship’ App aims to help those in crisis

A new ‘friendship’ app designed to help people in a crisis is being developed by researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The software, called Rescue Station, is aimed at helping those at risk of suicide. It allows users to pre-arrange face-to-face support based on a traffic light system. Red signifies an urgent need for help and green means ‘I’m ok.’ This support is unique as it facilitates support from family and friends, in contrast to many other NHS apps, which only connect the user to information.

Dr Jenny Cole, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and Dr Cathy Urquhart, Professor of Digital and Sustainable Enterprise, have been involved in the creation of the mobile app in partnership with Laurie Cooper of Digital Labs at MMU.

Dr Urquhart said: “The app has the potential to help hundreds at risk including victims of bullying and abuse. It enables users to negotiate the precise type of support they need between themselves and a friend or family member. The social negotiation between the supported and supporter is key in this application and it’s this aspect we wish the research and evaluate.”

Wider research

Development of the app will be taken further through testing, interviews and observation on the target user group. Given the nature of the research and the involvement of people at risk of suicide, app developers will be in consultation with a range of experts from psychologists to support workers.

The project fits into wider University research exploring the nature and authenticity of ‘digital’ friendships made via social media such as Facebook and Snapchat. Questions around digital friendships were debated at an ESRC Festival of Social Science event, which allowed young people to anonymously contribute to the research.