A WOMAN who lost her only sibling to suicide is preventing others from experiencing a similar tragedy.

Alice Hendy, of Fareham, founded prevention charity R;pple after her brother Josh died on November 25 2020. He was just 21 years old.

R;pple is a browser extension to support those who are conducting internet searches relating to self-harm or suicide.

It consists of a message of hope as well as a selection of mental health resources including call, text, and webchat services that are established and operate 24/7.

Daily Echo: The lodge built for R;pple

Alice told the Echo: "After examining Josh’s phone, I found that he had been researching techniques to take his own life via harmful internet searches.

"The content available online following a search of this nature currently provides mental health support in one format; a helpline."

An organisation called The Eight Foundation recently paid for Alice to have a lodge in her garden to work on R;pple.

The Office for National Statistics then donated desks and monitors to work from.

Alice's dad Ian has also joined the team.

"Mental health is a serious and urgent issue," she added. "Online searches for suicide methods have increased by 50% in the last 2 years with searches for suicide support lines also up by 150% since January 2019.

"To ensure more help and support is given to individuals searching for harmful content online, I set up R;pple Suicide Prevention.

"I felt very overwhelmed when I was approached about the opportunity of building a space for my charitable work, it was such a generous offer that I didn’t know whether to believe it was going to happen.

"When the builders and the electrician arrived, the dream became a reality, and I am so thankful to the team for their hard work in the construction of the lodge."

R;pple has gained significant UK media coverage, reaching over 8.5 million people and appearing on national television, radio and press.

To donate to the charity, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ripple-suicide-prevention