In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 12–25 and many are concerned about the impact of social media on youth mental health. While often seen as a risk, social media can also be a powerful tool to support mental health. Dr La Sala’s research focuses on amplifying the benefits of social media (e.g., connection, help-seeking), while reducing risks (e.g., exposure to distressing content). Her work explores the complex relationship between social media and youth mental health, and she brings unique expertise in developing effective strategies to promote online safety and prevent self-harm and suicide among young people. Her goal is to ensure that digital environments are safe for young people, and that all young people (and their families) have the tools and support to stay safe and thrive online.
Dr La Sala is a lead researcher on the #chatsafe program, the world’s first youth co-designed suicide prevention initiative that empowers young people to communicate safely online about self-harm and suicide. The #chatsafe guidelines and associated resources for families, educators and communities have been developed in partnership with more than 600 young Australians, translated and adapted for 22 languages and 28 countries, and have been downloaded over 500,000 times. The #chatsafe campaign is delivered via Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok and has reached over 15 million people globally. Dr La Sala’s research on online safety and youth suicide prevention has informed national and international suicide prevention strategies.