Using topic modeling to detect and describe self-injurious and related content on a large-scale digital platform

Objective Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) are a complex and enduring public health concern. Increasingly, teenagers use digital platforms to communicate about a range of mental health topics. These discussions may provide valuable information that can lead to insights about complex issues like SITBs. However, the field of clinical psychology currently lacks an easy-to-implement toolkit […]

Online disinhibition and internet communication of non-suicidal self-injury

Objective Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is of concern given the increased risk for suicide attempt. Prevalence rates of NSSI are highest among adolescents and young adults. These groups also exhibit the highest rates of Internet use. Previous research suggests that online communication of NSSI can serve as both a risk and protective factor related to NSSI […]

Online extreme challenges putting children at risk: What we know to date

Introduction: Extreme online challenges consist in taking part in challenges proposed on web and sharing the results in videos posted on social media. The use of social networks is widespread among the very young, giving easy access to potentially dangerous content with consequences on health. Evidence acquisition: The aim of this literature review is to describe the […]

Online harms? Suicide-related online experience: A UK-wide case series study of young people who die by suicide

Background: Few studies have examined online experience by young people who die by suicide. Methods: A 3-year UK-wide consecutive case series of all young people aged 10–19 who died by suicide, based on national mortality data. We extracted information on the antecedents of suicide of 544 of these 595 deaths (91%) from official investigations, mainly […]

Guided internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism in a non-clinical sample of adolescents: A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Perfectionism is elevated across a range of psychopathologies and has been shown to impede treatment outcomes. There is also evidence suggesting elevated perfectionism may contribute to the onset and maintenance of non-suicidal self-injury. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy for perfectionism reduces perfectionism and symptoms of psychological disorders and […]

Association of internet addiction with nonsuicidal self-injury among adolescents in China

Importance  Both nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), defined as the direct, deliberate damage of one’s body tissue without suicidal intent, and internet addiction among adolescents are public health concerns. However, the possible association of NSSI with internet addiction is not well understood. Objective  To examine the occurrence of internet addiction with NSSI and any sex differences among […]

Abnormal brain activity in adolescents with Internet addiction who attempt suicide: An assessment using functional magnetic resonance imaging

Internet addiction is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior and can lead to brain dysfunction among adolescents. However, whether brain dysfunction occurs in adolescents with Internet addiction who attempt suicide remains unknown. This observational cross-sectional study enrolled 41 young Internet addicts, aged from 15 to 20 years, from the Department of Psychiatry, the […]

High viewership of videos about teenage suicide on Youtube

The recent rise in suicide rate of teenagers has coincided with their increasing use of social media sites. YouTube is the social media platform most commonly used by teenagers. Recent research studies and news reports have highlighted serious concerns about the nature of information available on YouTube and its potential impact. Owing to such concerns, […]

Googling self-injury: The state of health information obtained through online searches for self-injury

IMPORTANCE: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), the deliberate destruction of one’s body tissue without suicidal intent, is a significant issue for many youth. Research suggests that adolescents and emerging adults prefer the Internet as a means to retrieve NSSI resources and that important others (eg, caregivers) may also seek this information online. To our knowledge, no research […]

Web-based and mobile suicide prevention interventions for young people: A systematic review

Objective: Suicide is a significant public health issue, and is especially concerning in adolescents and young adults, who are over-represented both in attempts and completed suicide. Emerging technologies represent a promising new approach to deliver suicide prevention interventions to these populations. The current systematic review aims to identify online and mobile psychosocial suicide prevention interventions […]

Online memorialization and grief after suicide: An analysis of suicide memorials on the internet

Although several studies have looked at the phenomenon of online memorialization, online involvement of those bereaved by suicide (suicide survivors) remains an understudied area. The current study analyzed 250 memorials dedicated to those who died by suicide on two memorialization Web sites: Faces of Suicide and Gone too Soon. The majority of the memorials was […]

Suicide online: How to regulate the distribution of online content that encourages suicide and self-harm

This paper will discuss the proliferation of pro-self-harm and pro-suicide websites online, as well as the laws, or lack thereof, surrounding them. By looking at the types of communications found on these websites and whether they have any societal value, we will be able to see where this form of communication falls under the current […]

Comparing indicators of suicidality among users in different types of nonprofessional suicide message boards: A linguistic analysis

Background: Little is known about linguistic differences between nonprofessional suicide message boards that differ in regard to their predominant attitude to suicide. Aims: To compare linguistic indicators potentially related to suicidality between anti-suicide, neutral, and pro-suicide message boards, and between the types of posters (primary posters, who initiate the thread, and the respective respondents). Method: […]

Suicide and self-harm related internet use: A cross-sectional study and clinician focus groups

Background: The rise in Internet use adds a new dimension to suicide prevention. We investigated suicide/self-harm (S/Sh)-related Internet use among patients presenting to hospital with self-harm. Method: We asked 1,198 adult and 315 child and adolescent patients presenting to hospital following self-harm in a city in South West England about Internet use associated with their hospital presentation. Associations […]

Comprehensive online self-monitoring to support clinicians manage risk of suicide in youth depression: A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Routine monitoring of depression symptoms and suicide risk is essential for appropriate treatment planning and risk management, but not well implemented by clinicians. We developed a brief online monitoring tool to address this issue. AIMS: To investigate whether the online tool can feasibly improve monitoring; whether it is acceptable and useful for young people […]

A systematic review of the relationship between internet use, self-harm and suicidal behaviour in young people: The good, the bad and the unknown.

Research exploring internet use and self-harm is rapidly expanding amidst concerns regarding influences of on-line activities on self-harm and suicide, especially in young people. We aimed to systematically review evidence regarding the potential influence of the internet on self-harm/suicidal behaviour in young people. Methods We conducted a systematic review based on an electronic search for […]

Suicide-related internet use among suicidal young people in the UK: Characteristics of users, effects of use, and barriers to offline help-seeking.

The study replicates earlier research using a UK sample to examine differences between suicidal people who go online for suicide-related reasons and suicidal people who do not, perceived effects of suicide-related Internet use, and perceived barriers to offline help-seeking. A total of 72 UK citizens (18–24 years old) who had contemplated killing themselves or deliberately […]

An empirical analysis of internet message boards for self-harming behavior.

Much debate surrounds the potential effects of self-harm forum use. Arguments in favor highlight factors such as providing access to a supportive community. However critical voice highlighting potential dangers such as forums serving as a platform to promote self-harm, clearly dominate the debate. Using an online questionnaire, the goal of the current study was to […]

‘Suicide stigma’ renegotiated: Storytelling, social support and resistance in an internet-based community for the young suicide-bereaved.

From a social constructionist and narrative perspective on grief, which emphasizes the connection between situated storytelling, meaning-making and self-formation, this article explores the power of collective storytelling in an Internet-based community of the suicide-bereaved. This is a context where young mourners who have lost a parent to suicide, among others, turn for social support, which […]

A mapping study on the internet and suicide.

Background: Since the mid-1990s concerns have been raised regarding the possible links between suicide and the Internet, especially among adolescents and young adults. Aims: To identify the nature and extent of the scientific publications, especially original research studies, on suicide and the Internet, and to investigate how the field has developed over time. In particular, this mapping study […]

Analysis of internet suicide pacts reported by the media in mainland China.

Background: In mainland China, frequent Internet suicide pacts in recent years have raised strong concerns from several social sectors and the influence of social networks on suicide is constantly growing. Aims: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of media-reported Internet suicide pacts in mainland China. Method: Our study comprised 62 Internet suicide pacts involving 159 victims […]

Suicide and suicide attempts in adolescents.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents 15 to 19 years abstract old. This report updates the previous statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is intended to assist pediatricians, in collaboration with other child and adolescent health care professionals, in the identifi cation and management of the adolescent at risk […]

Offline versus online suicide-related help seeking: Changing domains, changing paradigms.

Suicidal individuals are among the most reluctant help-seekers, which limits opportunities for treating and preventing unnecessary suffering and self-inflicted deaths. This study aimed to assist outreach, prevention, and treatment efforts by elucidating relationships between suicidality and both online and offline help seeking. An anonymous online survey provided data on 713 participants, aged 18Ð71 years. Measures […]