What is R;pple and why is it important?
R;pple is a crisis intervention tool that activates when harmful online content related to self-harm or suicide is searched. It offers a brief guided breathing exercise, followed by signposting to free, 24/7 mental health resources available in the user’s area.
R;pple intercepts those in our community that might need immediate mental health support, activating when harmful online content related to self-harm or suicide is searched. Once installed on university-managed devices, R;pple runs quietly in the background. If a harmful search is detected, the tool automatically activates, displaying a pop-up window. This window guides the user through a brief breathing exercise designed to calm and refocus, followed by a link to local mental health resources that offer 24/7 support. By providing this intervention, R;pple offers a message of hope to those who may be struggling and ensures that staff and students have immediate access to professional help when needed most.
FAQs
- How does R;pple work?
- Is my privacy protected when using R;pple?
- What happens if I need to search for harmful content as part of my teaching/research?
- When will the R;pple tool be available on my device?
- Can I download R;pple myself onto my personal device?
- Where can I go for support or if I have questions?
How does R;pple work?
Once installed on university-managed devices, R;pple runs quietly in the background. If a harmful search related to self-harm or suicide is detected, the tool automatically activates, displaying a pop-up window. This window guides the user through a brief breathing exercise designed to calm and refocus, followed by a link to local mental health resources that offer 24/7 support. The R;pple browser extension will be installed on the three primary browsers used by the UH community: Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, with the potential to expand to other browsers such as Safari in the future. Once installed, it will be ready to activate whenever needed—users do not need to take any action to enable it. For more information, please watch this 2 minute R;pple video.
Is my privacy protected when using R;pple?
Yes, R;pple is designed with privacy and security in mind. The tool does not monitor, track, or collect any personal data from users, and the university will not track or monitor your search activity. It only activates when harmful content related to self-harm or suicide is searched, and once the intervention is provided, it does not retain any information about the user. R;pple’s sole purpose is to provide support at critical moments without compromising privacy.
What happens if I need to search for harmful content as part of my teaching/research?
If a harmful search is detected, R;pple will gently intervene with a quick breathing exercise and then signpost available mental health resources. A pop-up screen will appear briefly, but it will not block or restrict any content. The interruption is short and non-intrusive, with no long-term impact on your browsing experience. This intervention is not intended to block access to content or disrupt your work; instead, it provides a supportive buffer during sensitive moments. The goal is to offer immediate help to those in need while allowing you to continue your research or coursework.
When will the R;pple tool be available on my device?
The tool will be rolled out to all university-managed staff and student devices from 16 December. This includes staff laptops and desktops, as well as student PCs in LRCs, labs, and teaching rooms. Please note that, as with any network update, while the tool will activate on PCs immediately, it may take a couple of weeks to filter through to all staff devices.
Can I download R;pple myself onto my personal device?
Yes, you can download R;pple onto your personal device. The tool is free to download for individuals, as well as parents and guardians, who want to access the support and mental health resources provided by R;pple. Simply visit the R;pple website or your device's app store to download the extension.
Where can I go for support or if I have questions?
If you have any questions or need assistance with the installation of R;pple, please reach out to the LCS Helpdesk, who can help with technical enquiries. For any questions or support related to wellbeing, Student Wellbeing is your main point of contact. At UH, we care deeply about the wellbeing of our community, and there is a wealth of support available to both staff and students.
A commitment to mental health
The introduction of R;pple is just one way the University is prioritising mental health. In addition to this tool, we encourage staff and students to familiarise themselves with the broader wellbeing resources available through the University, including counselling services, mental health first aid, and other support networks.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to the University’s wellbeing team for additional support.