Cyberbullying is associated with negative mental health outcomes including adolescent suicidal ideation. This requires effective and accessible preventive efforts. Healthy lifestyles are factors adolescents themselves can modify that may lower their risk of suicidal ideation. The aim of this study was to examine associations between physical activity, (outdoor) sport participation, a healthy diet, higher sleep duration and low levels of smoking and alcohol use, and suicidal ideation when faced with cyberbullying. A cross-sectional survey was administered in 2014-2015 to 1037 adolescents (12-18 years, M age = 15; 50% girls) in Flanders, Belgium. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess direct effects of cyberbullying involvement (victim, perpetrator, bystander) on suicidal ideation, and interaction effects between cyberbullying involvement, healthy lifestyles and suicidal ideation. Results showed that cyberbullying victimization, perpetration and bystanding were associated with higher suicidal ideation, but that the association with cyberbullying perpetration disappeared when corrected for other cyberbullying involvement forms. More physical activity, sleeping longer, more often taking a healthy diet and lower levels of smoking were associated with lower suicidal ideation. Some associations of healthy lifestyles with suicidal ideation disappeared at higher levels of cyberbullying involvement. Low alcohol consumption and (outdoor) sport participation were not associated with suicidal ideation, and sport participation was even associated with higher suicidal ideation at low levels of cyberbullying involvement. These findings suggest a novel approach to suicide prevention may be warranted, by strengthening healthy lifestyles as factors that adolescents themselves can modify to increase their resilience and reduce suicidal ideation.

Cyberbullying victimization is associated with mental health problems and reported to occur more in nonheterosexual orientation youth (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ)) than among heterosexual youth. Parental support may protect against mental health problems after being victimized, but nonsupportive parental influences may also exacerbate harm. This study investigated whether parenting dimensions (autonomy support, psychological control) moderated the associations between bullying victimization and mental health problems among heterosexual and LGBQ adolescents. An anonymous survey was completed by 1037 adolescents (M age = 15.2 ± 1.9, 50% female). Regression analyses examined associations between victimization, sexual orientation, and mental health problems, and investigated the moderating role of parenting. Both forms of victimization were associated with higher mental health problems. LGBQ youth experienced more depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation than heterosexual youth. Lower levels of parental psychological control and higher levels of autonomy support were related to having fewer mental health problems. However, perceived autonomy support appeared less protective when adolescents experienced more frequent victimization. Moreover, parental psychological control was related to heightened risk for suicidal plans specifically among LGBQ youth and also exacerbated the association between cyberbullying victimization and stress among LGBQ youth. These findings underscore the need to address parenting in whole-school antibullying and mental health promotion programs.

Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.

Objective This study examined associations of minority stressors (i.e., victimization, internalized homonegativity, and stigma consciousness), and coping styles (i.e., active, avoidant, and passive) with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (suicidality) among sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults, and whether coping style moderated these associations. Methods Logistic regression analyses examined these associations among 1432 SGM young adults (ages 18–29). Results Minority stressors and passive coping were associated with a higher likelihood of suicidality. Avoidant coping was associated with a lower likelihood of lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts among sexual minority participants, and active coping with a lower likelihood of past‐year suicidal ideation among sexual minority participants. Moderation analyses among sexual minority participants showed that when avoidant coping was high, associations between low victimization (compared with no victimization) and lifetime suicide attempts, and stigma consciousness and lifetime suicide attempts became non‐significant, and the association between internalized homonegativity and lifetime suicide attempts became significant. Among gender minority participants, when passive coping was high the association between low victimization and lifetime suicidal ideation became significant. Conclusion This study underlines the importance of minority stress and coping for suicidality among SGM young adults and the need for more research regarding the role of coping.

Background Suicide rates in Belgium have been consistently high, with a current prevalence of 15.1 suicides per 100.000 inhabitants, which is 1.5 times higher than the European average. In Flanders (northern part of Belgium) more than 10.000 suicide attempts are being registered every year and studies show that 13 % of the population reports a lifetime history of suicidal thoughts. Since 2006 an extensive Suicide Prevention Strategy has been implemented in Flanders, aiming to decrease the Flemish suicide rate by 20% by 2020 (baseline year 2000). Methods The Suicide Prevention Strategy has been developed by a team of experts, involving multiple stakeholders and the lay public. The 'Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention' (VLESP) was launched by the government to coordinate and monitor the prevention campaigns, tools and interventions included in the strategy, and to study their effectiveness. Results The Suicide Prevention Strategy includes five key strategies namely: 1) mental health promotion, 2) providing helplines and online help, 3) educating health professionals and community facilitators, 4) developing programs targeting high risk groups, 5) developing and implementing targeted suicide prevention guidelines for health professionals and other key gatekeepers. A range of innovative suicide prevention tools and interventions, such as an e-learning course for health professionals, smartphone applications and group therapies for suicidal individuals, have been developed and positively evaluated. In 2017 (in comparison with the year 2000) suicide rates in men decreased with 27% and suicide rates in women with 26%. For suicide attempts, a decrease of 19% was noted. Conclusions Suicide prevention is a public health priority in Flanders. A combination of evidence-based tools and interventions have been developed and assessed in the past years, resulting in a decrease in suicide rates.