Suicide: Using Technology for Detection and Intervention

iKeepSafe supports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) mission to prevent unhealthy behavior through reducing factors that increase risk, and increasing factors that promote resilience. We endorse their commitment to accomplish prevention through “all levels of  influence: individual, relationship, community, and societal” [1]. We hope to empower parents, educators, and mentors to use technology as a tool for identifying risk and promoting resilience within their own communities.

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24, and every year hundreds of thousands of young people engage in self-harm incidents [2]. Many young people display red-flag behaviors in the digital world before these incidents occur. The faceless nature of online communication often emboldens children to reveal details about their state of mind: leaving tell-tale indicators or “bread crumbs” of their well-being. If parents, educators, and mentors are aware of the risk factors and warning signs, connected technology can help them take an active role in promoting healthy behavior and intervening in dangerous situations.

Risk Factors

• Gender—males (age 15-24) are 5-6 more times likely to commit suicide than females [3].
• History of previous suicide attempts.
• Family history of suicide or exposure to the suicidal behavior of others.
• Alcohol or drug abuse.
• Stressful life event or loss (including family problems, cyberbullying, or a break-up).
• Incarceration. [4]

Warning Signs
Risk factors indicate a possibility of high-risk behavior. But, if a young person is actually planning a suicide or a self-harm episode, he or she will often indicate through various red-flag behaviors. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Organization lists the following as common warning signs for suicide:

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself.
• Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means.
• Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person.
• Feeling hopeless.
• Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge.
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities—seemingly without thinking.
• Feeling trapped—like there’s no way out.
• Increasing alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and society.
• Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep, or sleeping all the time.
• Experiencing dramatic mood changes.
• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life. [5]

The digital world provides a natural medium for acting out and/or expressing emotions, and warning signs often reveal themselves online. For example, plans for reckless and dangerous behavior could be posted on Twitter and Facebook, and feelings of hopelessness might be confessed on a blog. In January 2011, a woman in England posted a suicide note on her Facebook wall. She had 1,048 friends, but while her friends discussed the legitimacy of the post—no one came to her aid. She was found dead the next morning [6]. If any of her friends had reported the message to police, it might have saved her life.

Parents, educators, and mentors who are connected both offline and online with young people should carefully watch for warning signs. When witnessed, these warning signs should be taken very seriously to help young people get the support they need.

Upstander Action

Reduce Risk Factors
If you notice a young person struggling with depression or alcohol/drug abuse, if you suspect they are being sexually or physically abused, or if you witness or hear about emotional abuse, especially in the form of cyberbullying—intervene. There is something you can do to help. Talk to parents, talk to teachers, and take risk factors seriously. If cyberbullying is occurring, make sure school officials know about it. Risk factors are whole-community issues. They must be addressed on multiple levels.

Increase Factors for Prevention
Studies show that young people who feel connected with their families and communities are less likely to engage in suicidal or self-harm behaviors. [7]

Encourage young people to make healthy and supportive friends through involvement in school or other community groups and projects. Do what you can to help young people integrate with their families.

When appropriate, connect with young people online. If you suspect risk factors, or encounter suicide warning signs, you can help young people get the help they need—whether it be counselling, peer support or parental/teacher involvement.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, August 24). Suicide: Prevention Strategies. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/prevention.html
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Facts at a Glance. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/Suicide_DataSheet-a.pdf
3. National Institute of Mental Health. (2010, September 27).  Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml#factors
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009, October 15). Suicide Prevention: Youth Suicide. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/youth_suicide.html
5. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. (n.d.). What are the Warning Signs for Suicide? Retrieved from http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/SuicideWarningSigns.aspx
6. Hutchison, P. (2011, January 6). Facebook ‘friends’ mock ‘suicide’ of woman who posted goodbye message. The Daily Telagraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/8241015/Facebook-friends-mock-suicide-of-woman-who-posted-goodbye-message.html
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d). Strategic Direction for the Prevention of Suicidal Behavior: Promoting Individual, Family, and Community Connectedness to Prevent Suicidal Behavior. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/Suicide_Strategic_Direction_Full_Version-a.pdf