The Samaritan's suicide watch radar app, which was being used to detect suicidal tendencies in Twitter users, has been taken down owing to serious patient vulnerability concerns.
According to the BBC, the charity's app was meant to use an algorithm to identify key words and phrases, which indicated distress. However, the app is said to have been making those with mental health issues feel more vulnerable.
The Samaritans issued an apology to "anyone who has inadvertently been caused any distress".
The charity's policy director, Joe Ferns, said in a statement that the Samaritans had decided to suspend the application at this time for further consideration.
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