• Leading cause of death by injury is suicide. (2012 study published in the American Journal of
Public Health.)
• Suicide has increased by 15% over the past 10 years.
• Social Media is the most prevalent form of communication currently being used.
• Twitter users send over 400 million tweets a day
• There are 288 million active monthly users and over 500 million registered accounts on
Twitter.
• 25% of smart phone owners between the ages of 18-44 say they cant recall the last time
their smart phone wasn’t next to them.
STATISTICS:

What are the options for a youth who comes across
a tweet like this?

WHAT IS REAL TIME CRISIS?
Board Members Contributors
@Zengarden17
@GORivett94
@Andrewstwt
@ClaireSMBB
@Paisleyrae
@USACrimeStop
@AnneMarieBatten
@Lawscomm
@MediatedReality
@Precontemplator

STRUCTURE
• Charitable organization incorporating under the laws of Canada
(Thank you to @BLGLaw)
• Professionally trained staff in area of mental health emergencies
• Began operations in Toronto, Canada, with the goal of expanding
throughout Canada and the United States

VISION
The recognized leader in real-time intervention while
becoming the leading authority regarding positive and
negative effects of social media communications during
traumatic events.
MISSION
Connecting Real Time Professionals in Real Time
Interventions

PURPOSE
• Trained professionals saving and improving lives through the
utilization of social media tools and resources.
• Empowering and promoting safety and successful outcomes through
the engagement and development of trusted relationships.
• Excel by bridging the gap between community, social services and
law enforcement through virtual crisis intervention and negotiation.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
*Simulated Tweets Based on Actual Occurrences

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
*Simulated Tweets Based on Actual Occurrences

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
*Simulated Tweets Based on Actual Occurrences

REAL TIME CRISIS CAN….
Locate the person via a geo tag.
Contact Go Transit or TTC safety officers to hold the next train.
Intervene with the person in hopes of prolonging the conversation.

*Actual occurrence

*Actual occurrence

*Actual occurrence

*Actual occurrence

TWITTER’S RESPONSE TO A REQUEST TO HAVE THE
PICTURES REMOVED.
*Actual occurrence

7 DAYS LATER
*Actual occurrence

ENGAGE-ASSESS-RESPOND-SAFETY
• ENGAGE- Crisis Nurse engages directly with person at risk, reaches
out in a nonjudgmental way.
• ASSESS- Mental health risk assessment.
• RESPOND- Response is determined by level of risk.
• SAFETY- For person at risk, all service providers involved.

REAL TIME CRISIS GOALS
• Manage call for mental-health related calls with a social media component for the Toronto
Police Service or any other police, education or social service.
• Looking to reduce 911 calls for service, policing hours and visits to the emergency
department
• Looking to save and improve lives by building trusted relationships using technology.
• Collaborate with community partners such as Victim Services, Go Transit officers, probation
officers, leaders in the education sector and community mental health supporters
• Provide social media support for interested community partners already helping others but
not currently using technology

WHY REAL TIME CRISIS?
Potential for assistance in:
• Mental health intervention
• Youth cyber bullying related matters
• Domestic violence
• Sexual assault
• Human trafficking
Some persons at risk are unable to call for help but can use a smart
phone and obtain a connection and help silently.

WHY REAL TIME CRISIS?
Individuals who have received support from the nurse and officer from
Real Time Crisis continue to reach out for help on social media post
intervention but direct their concerns to RTC in lieu of police
intervention.
• One female has reached out over 100 times, police and ER were
only needed 3 of those times.
A successful online intervention can prevent an escalation that may
potentially lead to an emergency response that could result in injury
for the person at risk and the service provider.

TORONTO POLICE
SERVICE POSTED A
PICTURE OF MISSING
GIRL.
*Actual occurrence

HER FRIENDS
BEGAN TO TAG
HER
INSTAGRAM
ACCOUNT.
*Actual occurrence

HER
INSTAGRAM
WAS SET TO
PRIVATE
*Actual occurrence

A REAL TIME
CRISIS
VOLUNTEER
REQUESTED TO
FOLLOW AND
WAS ACCEPTED
*Actual occurrence

HER INSTAGRAM HAD INFORMATION SUCH AS A
PHONE NUMBER AND A BLACK BERRY PIN.
*Actual occurrence

NEXT STEP:
A goal of #RealTimeCrisis would be to keep her engaged positively
and to keep her out of street life using social media tools.
She ended up calling her Mom and going home the
following day.
Social media appeal assisted with this.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Contact Real Time Crisis
Twitter: @RealTimeCrisis
Facebook: Facebook.com/RealTimeCrisis
Instagram: RealTimeCrisis
Email: Realtimecrisis@gmail.com
Search for Real Time Crisis on Slide Share for this presentation
Visit Realtimecrisis.org for more information