Social Media & Suicide

This article was sent to us by our acquaintances at the Social Media Victims Law Centre in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was requested of BetterCare™ to include this article of public interest in our blog. To view their original, article and helpful resources click here. While this article focusses on research gathered in the United States and UK, at BetterCare™ we understand the role and influence social media has in our society here in Ireland.

This article may be a trigger to some readers, please do not hesitate to contact BetterCare™ for support or further information.

Over the last ten years, there has been a significant rise in the risk of teenage suicide. Although several factors play a role in an individual’s choice to take their life, recent studies have established connections between mental health issues such as depression and suicidal ideation, and social media usage.

About 46,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People die by suicide at a rate of 14 per 100,000. Among children and young adults, 10 to 24, the suicide rate is 10.7 per 100,000, and suicide is the second-leading cause of death among this age group .

While several studies have found a correlation between social media and internet use and suicide, determining a causal relationship between the two is difficult. Many factors contribute to an individual’s decision to end their life. However, researchers have determined that social media can increase the suicide risk in several ways while also potentially contributing to suicide prevention.

How Has Social Media Use Affected Teen Suicide Rate?

Researchers have linked several aspects of social media use to depression and higher suicide risk and according to the CDC, the suicide rate for male teens increased 31 percent between 2007 and 2015 and female teen suicides hit a 40-year high in 2015.

Over the past decade, the rate of teen suicide has risen dramatically. At the same time, social media use has also risen among teens. The first factor that has caused an increase in suicide prevalence rates among teens on social media is overuse.  A 10-year longitudinal study at BYU discovered that teenage girls who spent two to three hours daily on social media at age 13 were at a higher risk for suicide as young adults. Researchers concluded that girls and women are more relationally attuned and more sensitive to posts not being well-received comparisons, and lack of online connections.

They also tend to be more emotionally attached to the content they post, while boys tend more often to post and read funny content, according to a Pew Research Center report. A blog quoting social media expert Jamie Zelazny notes that teens of both genders who report using social media platforms more than two hours a day experience poor mental health outcomes, including suicidal thoughts.

A second factor is the content to which teens expose themselves. Teens sometimes fall victim to posts encouraging unhealthy challenges. A University of Utah blog discusses the Blue Whale challenge, which encourages teens on Snapchat to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as cutting or burning that lead to suicide. Following people who have a negative influence and passively scrolling tend to negatively affect health more than actively engaging and posting, the BYU research showed.

How Social Media Bullying Might Contribute to Increased Teen Suicide Rates

Social media use and overuse can make young people more vulnerable to cyberbullying. NBC News recently documented the case of 15-year-old Sadie Riggs. Other students constantly taunted Sadie for having red hair and braces in school hallways and on social media. Some posts encouraged her to kill herself, and she eventually did.

A systematic review has shown a link between suicidal behavior and being a victim of cyberbullying. This causal relationship was most significant among kids who had other mental health issues or negative life influences or who were also victims of traditional bullying. Also, studies have tied social media use to an increased risk of anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidal ideas.

Pre-existing Mental Health Disorders and Social Media Use

Pre-existing mental health disorders tend to make teens more prone to influence from social media, either positive or negative. A UK study says, “The natural conclusion is that different people are likely to be affected differently by their online experiences, and the same person may be affected differently on different occasions.” It notes that some teens with pre-existing mental health disorders are drawn to “an immersive atmosphere of depressive messages and images that act as an enticement to self-harm and suicide.” Others can draw out of their shyness and gain acceptance. The article suggests that careful public debate is needed to answer the question of “How to minimize risk without at the same time suppressing useful content?”. The same study of 14-year-olds found that online harassment and poor sleep habits associated with sustained media use made young people, especially girls, more susceptible to depression and poor self-esteem. The data also suggested a cyclical use between social media and depression. Specifically, depressed teens use social media to lift their spirits only to have harmful content or comparisons lead to further depression.

Warning Signs of Teen Suicide

Teenage years are stressful. Regular developmental changes coupled with other life events can put boys and girls at risk for depression and suicide. Johns Hopkins University statistics show that girls are more likely to attempt suicide than boys, but boys are four times as likely to succeed.

Suicide threats are a cry for help and should never be ignored, JHU says. In fact, the most significant predictor of whether someone will take their own life is whether they’ve previously expressed suicidal thoughts, according to DW.

Parents who believe their child is considering suicide should seek help right away. Here are other warning signs that a teen may be considering suicide:

• Self-destructive behaviors, such as an increased use of alcohol, drugs, and cutting

• Withdrawing socially

• Expressions of feeling trapped or hopeless

• Noticeable changes in routines, especially sleeping and eating

• Giving away possessions without explanation

• Personality changes and wide mood swings

• Loss of interest in schoolwork or previously enjoyable activities

• Physical complaints that seem to lack a physical cause, such as stomach aches or fatigue

• Unnecessary risk-taking

• Neglecting their appearance

• Failing to respond to praise

• Feeling bored or expressing boredom frequently

• Writing suicide notes

• Seeming preoccupied with death or expressing weird sentiments

• Problems focusing

Tips for Promoting Healthy Social Media Use for Your Teen

Social media can have positive health benefits for most teens if used appropriately. Parents have a crucial role in promoting healthy social media use. One way is by encouraging your teens, especially girls, to develop resilience and conversing with your teen about how they use social media and why it’s essential. For example, Northwestern University suggests asking teens whether they use social media to find friends or boyfriends and what impact they want their content to have on others. Talking with them about the tone of the language and the potential effects on others is another way to promote healthy social media use.

An outright ban on social media is unlikely to work in the short term and will fail to encourage positive social media habits in adulthood. Instead, parents should work with their teens to limit social media use and establish tech-free zones or times, such as dinnertime or bedtime.

The Northwestern article suggests that teens spend much of their time on social media at night, which affects their sleep. One limitation might be to keep the phone outside the bedroom at night, during sleep hours. When adults create a tech-free zone, they should be role models and abide by the same rules they implement for their children.

Also, adults should pay attention to their teens’ behavior and quickly note any changes that might signal depression or suicidal thoughts. It’s important to teach your teens how to monitor their own emotions and help them find safe places to go if they need help. Lastly, you should take every type of cyberbullying seriously, educating your teens about the effects of cyberbullying and ensuring your teens are aware of online portals or hotlines where they can report it when it happens.

Getting Help for Your Suicidal Teen

If you notice signs of suicidal thoughts or plans, here are ways to help your teen:

• Keep the lines of communication open and ask your teen directly if they are thinking of killing themselves if you notice any signs.

• Listen to your child.

• Encourage your teen to remain involved in their favorite activities.

• Remove any potential suicide weapons.

• Find a therapist in your area or, if you don’t know one, use and encourage your teen to use Crisis Text Online to text or chat with one. For emergency call 911

• In Ireland, you can free call SOSAD on 1800901909 or Samaritans 116 123 or Childline 1800666666.

  
  

Finally, if you believe your teen’s depression or suicidal thoughts or attempts are related to social media use or cyberbullying, contact the Social Media Victims Law Center today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you during this difficult time.

Thank you to the Social Media Victims Law Center for providing helpful resources and for contacting us at BetterCare™ Ireland. If any reader in the USA needs further support we encourage you to contact them directly.

For support in Ireland, please contact the numbers listed above. Indeed, if BetterCare™ can be of assistance please contact us directly by clicking here