Teen Suicide and Social Media

 There is evidence to suggest that social media use is associated with an increased risk of teenage suicide. 

Social media can be contributor to teenage suicide, and there is no one single cause.

Clinical Psychological Science in 2019 social media use is associated with increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts in young people.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  suicide second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24.

Social media a risk factor for suicide,  time on social media  feeling hopeless or suicidal.

JAMA Pediatrics in 2019 increased social media use an increased risk of suicide attempts in adolescents

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry in 2017  cyberbullying was a significant risk factor for suicide attempts in young people.

1. Cyberbullying  can be a significant risk factor for teenage suicide. Social media  a platform for cyberbullying to occur, constant connection online difficult  to escape.

2. Social comparison:  create a sense of pressure to present a perfect and curated image of oneself,  feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

3. Lack of in-person social connections: Spending a lot of time on social media can take away from in-person social interactions. lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection 

4. Exposure to harmful content: expose young people to harmful or triggering content related to suicide, self-harm, or other mental health issues. 

5. Addiction and compulsive behavior:  addictive and lead to compulsive behavior, 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides statistics on suicide rates among teenagers, but they do not specifically track data on social media use and suicide. Here are some relevant statistics from the CDC:

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10-24 in the United States.

• In 2019, the suicide rate among individuals aged 15-19 was 11.5 per 100,000 population. Among individuals aged 20-24, the rate was 17.0 per 100,000 population.

• From 2007 to 2018, the suicide rate among individuals aged 10-24 increased by 57.4%.

• Firearms are the most common method of suicide among individuals aged 10-24, followed by suffocation and poisoning.

Clinical Psychological Science association between social media use and mental health depending on platforms. Instagram associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms,

Snapchat  associated with depressive symptoms and social anxiety symptoms, but not anxiety symptoms.

• Twitter use was not associated with any of the mental health outcomes examined in the study.

• YouTube use was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, indicating that more use of YouTube was associated with lower levels of depression.

studies that have explored the association between Instagram use and mental health outcomes, including suicide, among adolescents. Here are some key findings:

• Royal Society for Public Health found that Instagram was the platform most associated with negative mental health outcomes among young people, 

• JAMA Pediatrics found that social media use, including Instagram use associated with depressive symptoms among adolescents

• Journal Clinical Psychological Science found that Instagram depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and social anxiety symptoms among young adults.

There is evidence to suggest that cyberbullying is a risk factor for teenage suicide. Here are some key findings from research on this topic:

1. Cyberbullying can contribute to depression and anxiety: young people who experience cyberbullying experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.

2. Cyberbullying can lead to suicidal ideation:  report suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

3. The impact of cyberbullying worse than traditional bullying:  more persistent and difficult to escape.

Implementing policies and programs to prevent and respond to cyberbullying, providing mental health resources to young people who have experienced cyberbullying, 

Promoting positive social interactions and relationships among young people. 

Important to educate young people, parents, and educators about the risks and consequences of cyberbullying,

Encourage responsible and respectful behavior online.

1. American Association of Suicidology, suicide rates among girls aged 15-19 have been steadily increasing since 2007

2. Clinical Psychological Science social media strongly associated with depression and suicide in girls.

3. UK Royal Society for Public Health social media contributing to a negative body image and low self-esteem in young women.

4. JAMA Pediatrics increased social media increased risk of suicide attempts in adolescent girls.

5. Journal Pediatrics cyberbullying is more common among girls. Victims of cyberbullying are at increased risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

mental health issues among U.S. teens have increased, particularly among young women. 

2001 to 2017, adolescent depression rates increased by 60%

Girls age 12 to 17 seeking counseling or treatment for mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thinking increased by 11% between 2005 and 2018

Figure 1: Percent of U.S. high school students with high depressive symptoms, by sex

Suicide, the second leading cause of deaths for high school-age youth in 2018, increased by 62% between 2009 and 2018 among this age group

Emergency room visits for self-inflicted injuries have also been on the rise among youth. From 2009 to 2015,

Studies have found an association between time spent on social media and poorer teen mental health, especially among young women

Teens spent greater amounts of time on smart phones were more likely to experience mental health problems.

Time spent on social media was more strongly linked to lower well-being among young women than among young men.

Study the effects of digital technology on teens ages 13-15.

7-8% of boys significant depressive symptoms 

 20% of girls exhibited depressive symptoms

Digital media associated with a higher likelihood of suicidal and non-suicidal self-harm and depression among girls,

Figure 2: Rates of self-harm & hours of screen time

 Girls more than two hours per day using social media more likely to engage in self-harm and suffer clinically significant depression symptoms.

Girls who spent five or more hours on social media were depressed.

Recommendations

Schools, churches, and other community organizations could inform families about mental health problems associated with social media and technology use.

Communities could lead campaigns encourages families to put their devices away  be present during dinner.

Communities lead campaigns importance of parents monitoring children’s social media use.

 Parents encouraged conversations with children potential harms associated with social media.

 Parents provided information signs of various depressive and suicidal behaviors.

Policymakers research on the effects of social media on children’s mental health the National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 Preventing teenage suicide associated some potential strategies that could help:

1. Educate young people: Provide education and resources  recognize signs of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Encourage them to seek help.

2. Promote safe and responsible social media use: Provide guidance and resources  use social media in safe and responsible ways. Strategies for reducing screen time, in-person social interactions, and setting boundaries.

3. Encourage positive interactions: Support  young people, both online and offline. Fostering positive relationships among peers, encouraging mentoring and role modeling, and promoting community engagement.

4. Provide mental health resources: Access to appropriate mental health resources when needed. Counseling, therapy, or support groups. Providing education and training to parents, teachers, and other adults.

5. Conduct research: Conduct further research understand the relationship between social media use and teenage suicide, and to identify effective prevention strategies.

Legislative and policy measures that can be implemented to help prevent teen suicide related to social media use. Here are a few examples:

1. Strengthening laws against cyberbullying: States have anti-bullying laws, laws don't go far enough to address cyberbullying. Laws that  target cyberbullying help deter this behavior.

2. Regulating social media platforms: Required to implement measures to prevent cyberbullying and harmful content. Have clear policies on what types of content are allowed and to remove harmful content promptly.

3. Increasing funding for suicide prevention programs: Directed towards suicide prevention programs in schools and communities, training for teachers and mental health professionals, resources for young people.

4. Education and awareness campaigns: Raise awareness about the risks associated with social media. Tools and resources to manage their social media use.

5. Supporting mental health treatment: Access to mental health treatment, including therapy and counseling.