distrACT
A discreet lifeline. In your pocket.
The distrACT app allows health, social care and educational organisations to boost support people who self-harm or feel suicidal — with calm, trusted guidance they can access anytime.
As an optional extra, you can customise the app for your organisation or local area to help people access nearby services and resources faster.
Meet people where they are — in crisis, in silence, in need of hope.
Self-harm and suicidal thoughts are deeply personal — but increasingly common. Across the UK, people are struggling with overwhelming feelings, often in isolation.
Services are under pressure, and it can be hard to know where to turn.
The distrACT app was created to offer a safe, accessible starting point — giving people reassurance, tools and next steps when they need them most.
A digital alternative — and fresh approach to public health education.
In 2016, Bristol’s Psychiatric Liaison Team reached out with a challenge:
“We give out leaflets after self-harm episodes, but they go out of date, cost a lot to print, and don’t always reach the right people.”
The idea? Build something better. Something mobile. Something human.
Together with health professionals, people with lived experience, and mental health charities, we developed distrACT — a comprehensive self-harm and suicide prevention app.
Today, distrACT is used across NHS trusts, universities and support organisations — with over 100,000 downloads and counting.
What the app offers.
distrACT gives people a calm, private space to find:
- Self-help tools — to manage stress, anxiety, low mood and emotional pain
- Crisis guidance — including emergency contacts and helplines
- Understanding — about why self-harm happens and what can help
- Hope and next steps — whether someone is in crisis or recovering
- Signposting to local support — if you choose to customise the app for your area
All content is written in plain language, regularly reviewed, and PIF Tick-certified for quality.
Why you might choose distrACT.
Use distrACT to:
- Share reliable, stigma-free information — at no cost
- Encourage safe self-care — especially while waiting for formal support
- Reduce misinformation — and increase informed choices
- Lighten the load on stretched services — by supporting early intervention
Seamlessly integrate into care pathways — without user registration or admin burden.
The outcomes we aim for.
Through public health education and support, distrACT helps:
- Reduce self-harm
- Prevent crises and suicides
- Ease pressure on mental health and emergency services
- Improve the experience of care
- Offer hope, even in the darkest moments
What users and professionals say.
“It’s discreet, private and you can access it at any time — that’s what people tell us they want.”
Naomi Salisbury, Director, Self-Injury Support“A must if you are concerned about self-harm or feeling suicidal and don’t know what to do next.”
App user“A beautiful app with extremely useful information.”
App user“A safe alternative to put in people’s hands.”
Dr Dominique Thompson, Student Mental Health Expert and GP“It helps people understand why they’re using self-injury — and opens up conversations.”
L.T., Public Contributor with lived experience
Built on trust. Backed by quality.
- PIF Tick certified — the UK’s only independent quality mark for health information
- ORCHA approved — evaluated and listed in national app libraries
- NHS DTAC compliant — meeting standards for safety, security and usability
How to use distrACT in your service.
There’s no cost to adopt distrACT. No registration. No barriers.
Just share it — through your website, leaflets, waiting rooms or referral pathways.
If you're working to improve mental health, reduce crisis demand, or support your student or patient community — distrACT is here to help you help others.
Localise distrACT for your community.
Want to make distrACT even more useful to your population?
You can add:
- A branded homepage for your service or area
- A local signposting section with targeted support options
- Clear messages that reflect your service priorities
Customisation is optional and designed to be simple, flexible and cost-effective.