Graham Roper. SPINZ Symposium, Dunedin, 28 November 2006. http://www.spinz.org.nz

1. Communication
Communication does not depend on syntax, or eloquence, or
rhetoric, or articulation but on the emotional context in which
the message is being heard.
People can only hear you when they are moving toward you;
they are not likely to when your words are pursuing them.
Even the choicest words lose their power when they are used
to overpower.
Attitudes are the real figures of speech.

2. LIFETxT
Lifetxt is a method that utilities cell phone
interactive txt messaging as a tool in early
intervention of a crisis
Crisis – crucial; turning point; time of extreme trouble
Collins English dictionary
Patent/copyright 2006

3. Objective
• Using the latest technology and taking advantage of
popular methods of communicating, lifetxt aims to
provide members of the public with the ability to use
their mobile phone to send txt messages to obtain
critical support from public support networks.
• (Text messaging remains the most popular service for mobile
phone users in the Asia Pacific region….)
SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060303/tc_afp/asiatechnologytelecom

4. Why?
• The technoglogy is in wide use throught NZ and the World
• High user groups are young people
• Creates access for the 1 in 10 who have a hearing disablity
• Enables access , in private, in a range of circumstances.

5. What we do know
• The ‘service’ can be provided.
• It is very cost effective/inexpensive.
• There are approx 4 million cell phone users in NZ
(vodophone 2,100,000 – june 06 - 55% market share)
• Useage growing at a rate of 55% per year
• The hearing impared cannot readly access crisis
support/intervention telephone services
• It meets a number of needs in the ‘New Zealand
Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006 – 2016’ MoH June 06

6. Why – an example
• 33,000 students took the opportunity to stand up and be counted in this
years online survey, an increase of more than 15,000 from
‘CensusAtSchool 2003’. Over 2,000 teachers registered their classes
nationwide.
• Technology
• In the last two years cell phone ownership has increased dramatically
more than doubling for 9 -10 year-olds. By age 14, a massive 84% of the
children surveyed have their own cell phones
• Phone ownership by age
• Age 2003 2005 Percent Increase
9 10% 22% 120%
10 13% 29% 123%
11 23% 44% 91%
12 33% 59% 79%
13 51% 76% 49%
14 59% 84% 42%

7. Targeted applications
• Interactive crisis intervention
• Crisis management
• Suicide prevention
• Text ‘Bulling’ support/intervention
• Early intervention

8. Possible Service Providers
• Any sector group with similar objectives.
• Lifeline
• Youth Line
Note;
Since presentation was completed, a ‘Not for profit’ Trust has
been formed with the objective, ‘to provide a nation-wide
interactive txt counselling service’. An advisory group has
been established to ensure a functional, quality, evaluated
service is provided. Funding proposals, for a free txt service,
are before various Government organisations.
Additional information – graham@lifetxt.org.nz
• World wide
– Registered interest from;
– Australia; youth mental health services
– U.S.A ; foundation for suicide prevention

9. Questions/Challenges
• What are the benefits?
• How would we know?
• Who would use it?
• How often?
• Under what circumstances ?

10. Evaluation
Questions and challenges
A formal Evaluation tool /template is currently
under development
– Outcomes measure
– Link outcome sheets with data lodge
– Funding requirements
– Training requirements
– Built in Data captivation
– Example; Total txts
Time

11. Challenges
• Limited ,if any, research on the use of cell phone
txt for crisis intervention.
• How to manage potential growth world wide.
• Funding to continue implementation , evaluation
and growth

12. What we also know

13. New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006
– 2016
The Seven Goals
• 1. Promote mental health and wellbeing, and prevent mental
health problems.
• 2. Improve the care of people who are experiencing mental
disorders associated with suicidal behaviour.
• 3. Improve the care of people who make non-fatal suicide
attempts.
• 4. Reduce access to the means of suicide.
• 5. Promote the safe reporting and portrayal of suicidal
behaviour by the media.
• 6. Support families/whänau, friends and others affected by a
suicide or suicide attempt.
• 7. Expand the evidence about rates, causes and effective
interventions.

14. New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy
2006 – 2016 and Lifetxt
• 1. Promote mental health and wellbeing, and prevent mental
health problems.
• 2. Improve the care of people who are experiencing mental
disorders associated with suicidal behaviour.
• 3. Improve the care of people who make non-fatal suicide
attempts.
• 7. Expand the evidence about rates, causes and effective
interventions

15. How it works

16. How it works •lifetxt is
provided on a
small program
that self installs
on support
groups PC.
•Security
features mean
the program
cannot be
copied to
another PC.
•support group users log into a secure server to register.
•The secure database issues users with a unique login and
password.

17. How it works
• A member of the public initiates a txt
message and sends to the support
groups
NOTE:
Once a username and password is entered
the link and any txt messages transferred
between the PC and database is encrypted
to ensure the message cannot be interfered
with in any way.

18. How it works
• If the original sender replies ‘again’ to the support
group, the program will send the txt to the staff
member who sent it or next available staff in the
queue.
• Callers are identified by I.D number linked to the cell
phone number
• Staff are able to view ‘recent’ messages only,
however , total number of txts over time are
displayed. *
Supervisors have access to all text's*

19. How it works
• A full range of reports are available to the supervisor
and the support group.
• If a member of the public txt again at any time the
database will try to match the caller txt to the support
member who responded initially to the txt.

20. Key Benefits
• lifetxt is always available.
• People will be able to use mobile phones to get
assistance
• Supervisors are able to access information either “in
session” or from the database history.
• Full reporting mechanisms are built in.
• The lifetxt solution is cost effective
• ALL txt communications are secure
• PC’s do not store txt data (vulnerability due to theft is
removed)
• ALL txt communications between PC and database is
encrypted for further security.

21. Profile
Graham Roper
• Born; Auckland, New Zealand
• Live; Dunedin, New Zealand
• Current Occupation (s)
∀ • Consumer Advisor, Mental Health and Community Services
Otago District Health Board
∀ • Owner/developer of Emergency Information Systems
• includes - Lifetxt
• Professional associations
∀ • Chairperson - NAMHSCA (National Association Mental Health Service Consumer Advisors).
• Brief Background
• • 1981 commenced training as an Ambulance Officer – Auckland.
Career included working in Auckland, Canterbury, Midland and Otago
• Graduated, Advanced Paramedic 1992, air medic specialist 1994
• Graduated, Adult and Tertiary educator - AUT- 1991
• Survivor of suicide –2001
• Journey of recovery – 2001 ……………………. Next slide

22. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear, our presence
automatically liberates others.
If you ask what is the greatest thing in the world?
I will tell you
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
It is people, people, people

23. Debate
Informal debate
affirmative v negative
“Txt councilling can really help”
• 3 speakers A=2 min – B = 2min – C =3min
• Total 7 min per team*
• 5 minute preparation
• 15 minute Debate*
• Debate result as defined by judging panel

24. Contact Details
• Graham Roper
P.O Box 13077
Green Island
Dunedin
New Zealand
• g.i.roper@xtra.co.nz
• 0064 03 488 5994
• www.emergencyinformationsystems.co.nz
– Copyright 2006
– International patent treaty rights
– nz registered patent no.536033