The internet and suicide: A double-edged tool

Tam, J.; Tang, Wei; Fernando, Devaka J.S.

doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2007.04.009

Cited by 47 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…[7][8][9] This may exacerbate the risk for NSSI repetition via a socialcontagion effect (ie, NSSI increasing by virtue of seeing, knowing, or hearing about others self-injuring). 8 This is additionally accentuated by research indicating that the Internet may elevate the risk for maladaptive acts, including disordered eating behavior, 20,21 suicidality, [22][23][24] and, possibly, NSSI. [7][8][9]18 Thus, health professionals working with youth engaging in NSSI need to be aware of the content of these videos.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Scope of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury on YouTube

et al. 2011

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WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT:Given its high rates (14 -24%) and co-occurrence with psychiatric difficulties, nonsuicidal self-injury among youth is worrisome. With more youth using video-sharing Web sites, such as YouTube, nonsuicidal self-injury-themed videos may be normalized and reinforced among youth who self-injure. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:Examination of nonsuicidal self-injury material on YouTube revealed favorably and frequently viewed videos that were accessible and graphic and that often were creative, with an informational, melancholic, or hopeless message. The possible impact of this material on viewers is worrisome.abstract OBJECTIVE: Nonsuicidal self-injury, the deliberate destruction of one's body tissue (eg, self-cutting, burning) without suicidal intent, has consistent rates ranging from 14% to 24% among youth and young adults. With more youth using video-sharing Web sites (eg, YouTube), this study examined the accessibility and scope of nonsuicidal self-injury videos online.METHODS: Using YouTube's search engine (and the following key words: "self-injury" and "self-harm"), the 50 most viewed character (ie, with a live individual) and noncharacter videos (100 total) were selected and examined across key quantitative and qualitative variables. RESULTS:The top 100 videos analyzed were viewed over 2 million times, and most (80%) were accessible to a general audience. Viewers rated the videos positively (M ϭ 4.61; SD: 0.61 out of 5.0) and selected videos as a favorite over 12 000 times. The videos' tones were largely factual or educational (53%) or melancholic (51%). Explicit imagery of self-injury was common. Specifically, 90% of noncharacter videos had nonsuicidal self-injury photographs, whereas 28% of character videos had in-action nonsuicidal self-injury. For both, cutting was the most common method. Many videos (58%) do not warn about this content. CONCLUSIONS:The nature of nonsuicidal self-injury videos on YouTube may foster normalization of nonsuicidal self-injury and may reinforce the behavior through regular viewing of nonsuicidal self-injurythemed videos. Graphic videos showing nonsuicidal self-injury are frequently accessed and received positively by viewers. These videos largely provide nonsuicidal self-injury information and/or express a hopeless or melancholic message. Professionals working with youth and young adults who enact nonsuicidal self-injury need to be aware of the scope and nature of nonsuicidal self-injury on YouTube. Pediatrics 2011;127:e552-e557

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confidence: 99%

The Scope of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury on YouTube

et al. 2011

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“…Harmful information was coded using a synthesis of schemes used by Biddle et al [10], Tam et al [22], and Westerlund et al [23] in their reviews of suicidal content on the internet. The harmful categories were: describing or facilitating access to lethal means; providing encouragement to people to end their life; portraying suicide in a fashionable or appealing manner; or an open category for other harmful content.…”

Section: Data Itemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the potentially harmful content described for the excluded apps, two additional apps contained a list of means of instant death, although this was presented as suggestions for removing access to means. The risks of presenting lethal means have been discussed in previous work looking at the presentation of suicide on the internet [10,22].…”

Section: App Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Assessment of Smartphone Tools for Suicide Prevention

2016

Primary Health Care

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“…41 Furthermore, it has been argued that forums that deal with suicidal behavior and are unmoderated by professionals have negative repercussions. 38,42 Supporting this argument is the fact that some forums or blogs provide harmful information about how to access online pharmacies, often foreign ones, 33,43 in order to purchase lethal drugs, discourage people with mental illness from seeking help, 9,44,45 and determine negative attitudes toward future psychotherapies. 24 As a result, an ethical debate has arisen about whether or not the freedom of expression should be censured by imposing regulations on content in unmediated forums and blogs dealing with suicidal behavior.…”

Section: The Internet As a Threat To Suicidal Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%