Internet Search Activity of Young People With Mood Disorders Who Are Hospitalized for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: Qualitative Study of Google Search Activity

Background Little is known about the internet search activity of people with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). This data source has the potential to inform both clinical and public health efforts, such as suicide risk assessment and prevention. Objective We aimed to evaluate the internet search activity of suicidal young people to find evidence of suicidal ideation and behavioral health–related content. Methods Individuals aged between 15 and 30 years (N=43) with mood disorders who were hospitalized for STBs provided access to their internet search history. Searches that were conducted in the 3-month period prior to hospitalization were extracted and manually evaluated for search themes related to suicide and behavioral health. Results A majority (27/43, 63%) of participants conducted suicide-related searches. Participants searched for information that exactly matched their planned or chosen method of attempting suicide in 21% (9/43) of cases. Suicide-related search queries also included unusual suicide methods and references to suicide in popular culture. A majority of participants (33/43, 77%) had queries related to help-seeking themes, including how to find inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care. Queries related to mood and anxiety symptoms were found among 44% (19/43) of participants and included references to panic disorder, the inability to focus, feelings of loneliness, and despair. Queries related to substance use were found among 44% (19/43) of participants. Queries related to traumatic experiences were present among 33% (14/43) of participants. Few participants conducted searches for crisis hotlines (n=3). Conclusions Individuals search the internet for information related to suicide prior to hospitalization for STBs. The improved understanding of the search activity of suicidal people could inform outreach, assessment, and intervention strategies for people at risk. Access to search data may also benefit the ongoing care of suicidal patients.

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Internet Search Activity of Young People With Mood Disorders Who Are Hospitalized for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: Qualitative Study of Google Search Activity (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.28262 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Khatiya C Moon ◽

Anna R Van Meter ◽

Michael A Kirschenbaum ◽

Asra Ali ◽

John M Kane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Behavioral Health ◽

Mood Disorders ◽

The Internet ◽

Internet Search ◽

Search Activity ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Google Search ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

BACKGROUND Little is known about the internet search activity of people with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). This data source has the potential to inform both clinical and public health efforts, such as suicide risk assessment and prevention. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the internet search activity of suicidal young people to find evidence of suicidal ideation and behavioral health–related content. METHODS Individuals aged between 15 and 30 years (N=43) with mood disorders who were hospitalized for STBs provided access to their internet search history. Searches that were conducted in the 3-month period prior to hospitalization were extracted and manually evaluated for search themes related to suicide and behavioral health. RESULTS A majority (27/43, 63%) of participants conducted suicide-related searches. Participants searched for information that exactly matched their planned or chosen method of attempting suicide in 21% (9/43) of cases. Suicide-related search queries also included unusual suicide methods and references to suicide in popular culture. A majority of participants (33/43, 77%) had queries related to help-seeking themes, including how to find inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care. Queries related to mood and anxiety symptoms were found among 44% (19/43) of participants and included references to panic disorder, the inability to focus, feelings of loneliness, and despair. Queries related to substance use were found among 44% (19/43) of participants. Queries related to traumatic experiences were present among 33% (14/43) of participants. Few participants conducted searches for crisis hotlines (n=3). CONCLUSIONS Individuals search the internet for information related to suicide prior to hospitalization for STBs. The improved understanding of the search activity of suicidal people could inform outreach, assessment, and intervention strategies for people at risk. Access to search data may also benefit the ongoing care of suicidal patients.

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Structural brain alterations associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people: results across 21 international studies from the ENIGMA Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours consortium

10.1101/2021.09.27.21264068 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Laura S. van Velzen ◽

Maria R. Dauvermann ◽

Lejla Colic ◽

Luca M. Villa ◽

Hannah S. Savage ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Mood Disorders ◽

Surface Area ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Brain Morphology ◽

Frontal Pole ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

History Of ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

AbstractObjectiveIdentifying brain differences associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in young people is critical to understanding their development and generating effective approaches to early intervention and prevention. The ENIGMA Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours (ENIGMA-STB) consortium analyzed neuroimaging data harmonized across sites to examine brain morphology associated with STBs in youth.MethodsFirst, we examined associations among regional brain structure and STBs, which were assessed in six samples of youth with mood disorders, using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS; N=577). Second, we combined this sample with a larger sample (total 21 sites) in which STBs were assessed using various instruments. MRI metrics were compared among healthy controls without STBs (HC; N=688), clinical controls without STBs (CC; N=648), and young people with psychiatric diagnoses and current suicidal ideation (N=406). In separate analyses, MRI metrics were compared among HCs (N=335), CCs (N=768), and suicide attempters (N=254).ResultsIn the homogeneous C-SSRS sample, surface area of the frontal pole was lower in young people with mood disorders and history of actual suicide attempts (N=163) than those without (N=394; FDR-p<.001; Cohen’s d=.334). When expanding to more clinically heterogeneous samples, we also found lower surface area of the frontal pole in those with a history of suicide attempts (Cohen’s d=.22).ConclusionsLower frontal pole surface area may represent a vulnerability for a suicide attempt; however, more research is needed to understand the nature of its relationship to suicide risk.

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Sexting, Web-Based Risks, and Safety in Two Representative National Samples of Young Australians: Prevalence, Perspectives, and Predictors (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.13338 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Alyssa C Milton ◽

Benjamin A Gill ◽

Tracey A Davenport ◽

Mitchell Dowling ◽

Jane M Burns ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Internet Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Safety Skills ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Late Night ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors ◽

Health And Well Being

BACKGROUND The rapid uptake of information and communication technology (ICT) over the past decade—particularly the smartphone—has coincided with large increases in sexting. All previous Australian studies examining the prevalence of sexting activities in young people have relied on convenience or self-selected samples. Concurrently, there have been recent calls to undertake more in-depth research on the relationship between mental health problems, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and sexting. How sexters (including those who receive, send, and two-way sext) and nonsexters apply ICT safety skills warrants further research. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to extend the Australian sexting literature by measuring (1) changes in the frequency of young people’s sexting activities from 2012 to 2014; (2) young people’s beliefs about sexting; (3) association of demographics, mental health and well-being items, and internet use with sexting; and (4) the relationship between sexting and ICT safety skills. METHODS Computer-assisted telephone interviewing using random digit dialing was used in two Young and Well National Surveys conducted in 2012 and 2014. The participants included representative and random samples of 1400 young people aged 16 to 25 years. RESULTS From 2012 to 2014, two-way sexting (2012: 521/1369, 38.06%; 2014: 591/1400, 42.21%; P=.03) and receiving sexts (2012: 375/1369, 27.39%; 2014: 433/1400, 30.93%; P<.001) increased significantly, not sexting (2012: 438/1369, 31.99%; 2014: 356/1400, 25.43%; P<.001) reduced significantly, whereas sending sexts (2012: n=35/1369, 2.56%; 2014: n=20/1400, 1.43%; P>.05) did not significantly change. In addition, two-way sexting and sending sexts were found to be associated with demographics (male, second language, and being in a relationship), mental health and well-being items (suicidal thoughts and behaviors and body image concerns), and ICT risks (cyberbullying others and late-night internet use). Receiving sexts was significantly associated with demographics (being male and not living with parents or guardians) and ICT risks (being cyberbullied and late-night internet use). Contrary to nonsexters, Pearson correlations demonstrated that all sexting groups (two-way, sending, and receiving) had a negative relationship with endorsing the ICT safety items relating to being careful when using the Web and not giving out personal details. CONCLUSIONS Our research demonstrates that most young Australians are sexting or exposed to sexting in some capacity. Sexting is associated with some negative health and well-being outcomes—specifically, sending sexts is linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, body image issues, and ICT safety risks, including cyberbullying and late-night internet use. Those who do sext are less likely to engage in many preventative ICT safety behaviors. How the community works in partnership with young people to address this needs to be a multifaceted approach, where sexting is positioned within a wider proactive conversation about gender, culture, psychosocial health, and respecting and caring for each other when on the Web.

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Self‐criticism, interpersonal conditions, and biosystemic inflammation in suicidal thoughts and behaviors within mood disorders: A bio‐cognitive‐interpersonal hypothesis

Journal of Personality ◽

10.1111/jopy.12446 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 133-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Golan Shahar ◽

Megan L. Rogers ◽

Hadar Shalev ◽

Thomas E. Joiner

Keyword(s):

Mood Disorders ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

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Sexting, Web-Based Risks, and Safety in Two Representative National Samples of Young Australians: Prevalence, Perspectives, and Predictors

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/13338 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. e13338

Author(s):

Alyssa C Milton ◽

Benjamin A Gill ◽

Tracey A Davenport ◽

Mitchell Dowling ◽

Jane M Burns ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Internet Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Safety Skills ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Late Night ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors ◽

Health And Well Being

Background The rapid uptake of information and communication technology (ICT) over the past decade—particularly the smartphone—has coincided with large increases in sexting. All previous Australian studies examining the prevalence of sexting activities in young people have relied on convenience or self-selected samples. Concurrently, there have been recent calls to undertake more in-depth research on the relationship between mental health problems, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and sexting. How sexters (including those who receive, send, and two-way sext) and nonsexters apply ICT safety skills warrants further research. Objective This study aimed to extend the Australian sexting literature by measuring (1) changes in the frequency of young people’s sexting activities from 2012 to 2014; (2) young people’s beliefs about sexting; (3) association of demographics, mental health and well-being items, and internet use with sexting; and (4) the relationship between sexting and ICT safety skills. Methods Computer-assisted telephone interviewing using random digit dialing was used in two Young and Well National Surveys conducted in 2012 and 2014. The participants included representative and random samples of 1400 young people aged 16 to 25 years. Results From 2012 to 2014, two-way sexting (2012: 521/1369, 38.06%; 2014: 591/1400, 42.21%; P=.03) and receiving sexts (2012: 375/1369, 27.39%; 2014: 433/1400, 30.93%; P<.001) increased significantly, not sexting (2012: 438/1369, 31.99%; 2014: 356/1400, 25.43%; P<.001) reduced significantly, whereas sending sexts (2012: n=35/1369, 2.56%; 2014: n=20/1400, 1.43%; P>.05) did not significantly change. In addition, two-way sexting and sending sexts were found to be associated with demographics (male, second language, and being in a relationship), mental health and well-being items (suicidal thoughts and behaviors and body image concerns), and ICT risks (cyberbullying others and late-night internet use). Receiving sexts was significantly associated with demographics (being male and not living with parents or guardians) and ICT risks (being cyberbullied and late-night internet use). Contrary to nonsexters, Pearson correlations demonstrated that all sexting groups (two-way, sending, and receiving) had a negative relationship with endorsing the ICT safety items relating to being careful when using the Web and not giving out personal details. Conclusions Our research demonstrates that most young Australians are sexting or exposed to sexting in some capacity. Sexting is associated with some negative health and well-being outcomes—specifically, sending sexts is linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, body image issues, and ICT safety risks, including cyberbullying and late-night internet use. Those who do sext are less likely to engage in many preventative ICT safety behaviors. How the community works in partnership with young people to address this needs to be a multifaceted approach, where sexting is positioned within a wider proactive conversation about gender, culture, psychosocial health, and respecting and caring for each other when on the Web.

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Differences in Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Three Racial Groups

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000621 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 172-178

Author(s):

Brooke A. Ammerman ◽

Martha K. Fahlgren ◽

Kristen M. Sorgi ◽

Michael S. McCloskey

Keyword(s):

Suicide Attempts ◽

Health Concern ◽

Future Research ◽

Racial Groups ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Final Sample ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Assessment Procedures ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Abstract. Background: Despite being a major public health concern, it is unclear how suicidal thoughts and behaviors differentially impact separate racial groups. Aims: The aim of the current study was to examine the occurrence of nonlethal suicide events, in addition to suicide attempt characteristics and factors contributing to suicide attempts. Method: A final sample of 7,094 undergraduates from a large northeastern university, identifying as members of three racial groups (White [67.30%], Black [17.30%], and Asian [15.40%]), completed online questionnaires. Results: White participants reported increased likelihood of endorsing lifetime suicidal ideation and plan, whereas Black participants reported decreased likelihood of these events; no differences were found in rates of lifetime suicide attempts. Black participants' suicidal behavior may involve greater ambivalence of intent. A higher proportion of Asian participants endorsed interpersonal factors as contributing to their suicide attempts, whereas a greater percentage of White participants reported internal contributing factors. Limitations: Findings are limited by the sample size and assessment of lifetime suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Conclusion: The findings present a more nuanced look at attitudes and actions related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors that may inform future research and risk assessment procedures.

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