Associations Between Social Media and Suicidal Behaviors During a Youth Suicide Cluster in Ohio

Swedo, Elizabeth A.; Beauregard, Jennifer L.; Fijter, Sietske de; Werhan, Luke; Norris, Kirkland; Montgomery, Martha P.; Rose, Erica Billig; David-Ferdon, Corinne; Massetti, Greta M.; Hillis, Susan D.; Sumner, Steven A.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.049

Cited by 46 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…A recent example was the live streaming of a suicide on the social media platform, TikTok, which was viewable by their estimated 328 million users under the age of 24 [ 46 , 47 ]. Prior studies report that exposure to unsafe and poorly moderated suicide-related content were associated with an increase in young people experiencing suicidal ideation and suicide attempts [ 48 ]. This speaks to the need for young people to feel equipped in knowing how to manage the content they encounter and the findings from this study suggest that the #chatsafe intervention can play a useful part in this process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can a social media intervention improve online communication about suicide? A feasibility study examining the acceptability and potential impact of the #chatsafe campaign

et al. 2021

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There is a need for effective and youth-friendly approaches to suicide prevention, and social media presents a unique opportunity to reach young people. Although there is some evidence to support the delivery of population-wide suicide prevention campaigns, little is known about their capacity to change behaviour, particularly among young people and in the context of social media. Even less is known about the safety and feasibility of using social media for the purpose of suicide prevention. Based on the #chatsafe guidelines, this study examines the acceptability, safety and feasibility of a co-designed social media campaign. It also examines its impact on young people’s willingness to intervene against suicide and their perceived self-efficacy, confidence and safety when communicating on social media platforms about suicide. A sample of 189 young people aged 16–25 years completed three questionnaires across a 20-week period (4 weeks pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and at 4-week follow up). The intervention took the form of a 12-week social media campaign delivered to participants via direct message. Participants reported finding the intervention acceptable and they also reported improvements in their willingness to intervene against suicide, and their perceived self-efficacy, confidence and safety when communicating on social media about suicide. Findings from this study present a promising picture for the acceptability and potential impact of a universal suicide prevention campaign delivered through social media, and suggest that it can be safe to utilize social media for the purpose of suicide prevention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can a social media intervention improve online communication about suicide? A feasibility study examining the acceptability and potential impact of the #chatsafe campaign

et al. 2021

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“…Posting suicide-related content was overall associated with an increased odds of both SI and SA, while seeing related posts was only associated with an increased odds of SI when confounding variables were adjusted (Swedo et al, 2020). Results from the present study support the idea that more active involvement, such as creating and posting content, likely occurs among those at higher risk on the spectrum of suicidality (Swedo et al, 2020). This involvement may be differentiated in some respects from a typical way of "being active" on social media (e.g., sharing photos or updating one's status) which is often associated with fewer psychological symptoms, possibly via the role of social support (Frison and Eggermont, 2016;Thorisdottir et al, 2019).…”

Section: Social Media In the Relationship Between Adolescents' Social Circumstances And Suicidalitymentioning

confidence: 93%

“…A noticeable finding regarding exposure to social media posts was that having posted content about one's SH during the past 12 months was associated with an increased risk of lifetime suicidality and SA when controlling for other behavioral and social features, while merely having seen related content in the same period did not maintain its association with suicidality risk after adjusting for other variables. A similar attempt to differentiate between "posting" and "seeing" content has recently been made by Swedo et al (2020) in a study on youth suicide clusters. Posting suicide-related content was overall associated with an increased odds of both SI and SA, while seeing related posts was only associated with an increased odds of SI when confounding variables were adjusted (Swedo et al, 2020).…”

Section: Social Media In the Relationship Between Adolescents' Social Circumstances And Suicidalitymentioning

confidence: 95%

“…A similar attempt to differentiate between "posting" and "seeing" content has recently been made by Swedo et al (2020) in a study on youth suicide clusters. Posting suicide-related content was overall associated with an increased odds of both SI and SA, while seeing related posts was only associated with an increased odds of SI when confounding variables were adjusted (Swedo et al, 2020). Results from the present study support the idea that more active involvement, such as creating and posting content, likely occurs among those at higher risk on the spectrum of suicidality (Swedo et al, 2020).…”

Section: Social Media In the Relationship Between Adolescents' Social Circumstances And Suicidalitymentioning

confidence: 95%

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Relationship of Social and Behavioral Characteristics to Suicidality in Community Adolescents With Self-Harm: Considering Contagion and Connection on Social Media

et al. 2021

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A close link has been established between self-harm and suicide risk in adolescents, and increasing attention is given to social media as possibly involved in this relationship. It is important to identify indicators of suicidality (i.e., suicide ideation or attempt) including aspects related to contagion in online and offline social networks and explore the role of social media in the relationship between social circumstances and suicidality in young adolescents with self-harm. This study explored characteristics of Korean adolescents with a recent history of self-harm and identified how behavioral and social features explain lifetime suicidality with emphasis on the impact of social media. Data came from a nationwide online survey among sixth- to ninth-graders with self-harm during the past 12 months (n = 906). We used χ2 tests of independence to explore potential concomitants of lifetime suicidality and employed a multivariate logistic regression model to examine the relationship between the explanatory variables and suicidality. Sensitivity analyses were performed with lifetime suicide attempt in place of lifetime suicidality. 33.9% (n = 306) and 71.2% (n = 642) reported to have started self-harm by the time they were fourth- and six-graders, respectively; 44.3% (n = 400) reported that they have friends who self-harm. Having endorsed moderate/severe forms and multiple forms of self-harm (OR 5.36, p < 0.001; OR 3.13, p < 0.001), having engaged in self-harm for two years or more (OR 2.42, p = 0.001), having friends who self-harm (OR 1.92, p = 0.013), and having been bullied at school were associated with an increased odds of lifetime suicidality (OR 2.08, p = 0.004). Notably, having posted content about one’s self-harm on social media during the past 12 months was associated with an increased odds of lifetime suicidality (OR 3.15, p < 0.001), whereas having seen related content in the same period was not. Sensitivity analyses yielded similar results with lifetime suicide attempt, supporting our findings from the logistic regression. The current study suggests that self-harm may be prevalent from early adolescence in South Korea with assortative gathering. The relationship of vulnerable adolescents’ social circumstances to suicide risk may be compounded by the role of social media. As the role of social media can be linked to both risk (i.e., contagion) and benefit (i.e., social connection and support), pre-existing vulnerabilities alongside SH and what online communication centers on should be a focus of clinical attention.

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“…Exposure to youth suicide by firearm through social media, even when fictitious, may have a contagious effect on suicidal ideation and attempts (Swedo et al, 2020). This adds to the larger body of research on the social contagion of suicide, particularly when details of a death by suicide, such as weapon use, are covered by the media (e.g., Sisask & Värnik, 2012; Stack, 2002).…”

Section: Racial Disparities In Firearm Violencementioning

confidence: 99%

Annual Research Review: Youth firearm violence disparities in the United States and implications for prevention

Bottiani

Camacho

Johnson

et al. 2021

Child Psychology Psychiatry

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ObjectiveResearch has identified the United States (U.S.) as a global outlier in its firearm ownership rates, with a correspondingly higher risk of youth firearm violence compared to other countries. The relative extent of disparities in youth firearm violence within the U.S. has been less clear. Little is known about factors in the social ecology driving these disparities and whether current firearm violence prevention approaches sufficiently address them.MethodApplying a health disparities framework, we synthesized epidemiological, sociological, and prevention science literatures, emphasizing structural inequalities in youth sociocultural positionality in life course developmental context. We also highlighted findings from national injury data and other studies regarding the magnitude and impacts of youth firearm violence disparities.ResultsThe burden of firearm violence varied markedly at intersections of gender, race, place, developmental stage, and homicidal or suicidal intent. Firearm homicide among Black boys and young men (ages 15‐24) was at outlier levels ‐ many times greater than the rates of any other demographic group, developmental stage, or violence intent, particularly in urban settings. Recent research has operationalized structural racism and implicated historically racialized spaces as a root cause of this disparity. In contrast, elevated firearm suicide rates were found among Native and White boys and young men in rural settings; firearm‐related cultural attitudes and gender socialization were points of consideration to explain these disparities. We highlighted research‐based youth firearm violence preventive interventions, and emphasized gaps in efforts focused on structural and sociocultural factors.ConclusionsMore explicit attention to reducing firearm homicide among Black boys and young men and firearm suicide among Native and rural White boys and young men is urgently needed and has potential to substantially lower overall rates of firearm violence in the U.S.

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Associations Between Social Media and Suicidal Behaviors During a Youth Suicide Cluster in Ohio

Cited by 46 publications

References 32 publications

Can a social media intervention improve online communication about suicide? A feasibility study examining the acceptability and potential impact of the #chatsafe campaign

Can a social media intervention improve online communication about suicide? A feasibility study examining the acceptability and potential impact of the #chatsafe campaign

Relationship of Social and Behavioral Characteristics to Suicidality in Community Adolescents With Self-Harm: Considering Contagion and Connection on Social Media

Annual Research Review: Youth firearm violence disparities in the United States and implications for prevention

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