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La Sala L, Sabo AV, Lamblin M, Robinson J. Can #chatsafe support parents and carers beyond Australia? A qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1571. [PMID: 38862974 PMCID: PMC11165895 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19040-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rates of self-harm and suicide are rising for young people globally and many implicate social media in this problem. To address this concern and to increase the confidence of adults to communicate safely about suicide and social media with young people, the #chatsafe Guide for Parents and Carers was developed in Australia. With significant uptake of the resource among Australian adults, the aim of the current study was to update and contextualise the #chatsafe Guide for Parents and Carers for audiences in 15 countries globally. To improve the relevance of this resource for parents and carers in these countries, the present study sought to understand the concerns held by parents, carers and suicide prevention professionals around the world about these topics and to explore the extent to which a resource such as #chatsafe would be helpful within their communities. METHODS Seven focus groups were conducted via Zoom with parents, carers and suicide prevention professionals (n = 40) from 15 countries. Transcribed data were coded and thematically analysed using both inductive and deductive processes. RESULTS Six themes are reported: (1) Two scary 'S' words; (2) Country and culture impact who talks (or is silent) about self-harm and suicide; (3) The need for a protective social ecosystem; (4) #chatsafe is a tool that can help parents, carers and young people worldwide; (5) #chatsafe should consider local context and end users to improve its relevance for parents and carers worldwide; and (6) A range of marketing and dissemination strategies are needed to reach adults with #chatsafe information. Findings of this study informed the update and contextualisation of the #chatsafe Guide for Parents and Carers for adult audiences in 15 countries. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study underscore a universal need for psychoeducation initiatives that provide adults with the skills and knowledge to support the mental health of young people, both online and offline, and that resources like #chastafe can play an important role in providing reliable information about these topics to adults across a range of cultures and contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise La Sala
- , 35 Poplar Road, Orygen, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Amanda Vittoria Sabo
- , 35 Poplar Road, Orygen, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle Lamblin
- , 35 Poplar Road, Orygen, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jo Robinson
- , 35 Poplar Road, Orygen, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Robinson J, Thorn P, McKay S, Hemming L, Battersby-Coulter R, Cooper C, Veresova M, Li A, Reavley N, Rice S, Lamblin M, Pirkis J, Reidenberg D, Harrison V, Skehan J, La Sala L. #chatsafe 2.0. updated guidelines to support young people to communicate safely online about self-harm and suicide: A Delphi expert consensus study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289494. [PMID: 37531397 PMCID: PMC10395901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Young people use social media to communicate about self-harm and suicide and this is associated with both potential risks and protective effects. The #chatsafe guidelines were originally developed in 2018 to equip young people to communicate safely online about suicide. They were shown to be safe, acceptable, and beneficial; however, they do not provide guidance on self-harm, and social media is constantly evolving. This study aimed to update the #chatsafe guidelines to reflect new evidence and current social media affordances, and to include guidance on self-harm. METHODS A Delphi expert consensus study was conducted, comprising six stages: 1) A systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature; 2) A series of roundtables with key stakeholders including social media companies, policymakers, and young people; 3) Questionnaire development; 4) Expert panel formation; 5) Data collection and analysis; and 6) Guideline development. RESULTS A total of 191 items were included in the new #chatsafe guidelines. These were organised into eight themes, which became the overarching sections of the guidelines: 1) General tips; 2) Creating self-harm and suicide content; 3) Consuming self-harm and suicide content; 4) Livestreams of self-harm and suicide acts; 4) Self-harm and suicide games, pacts, and hoaxes; 6) Self-harm and suicide communities; 7) Bereavement and communicating about someone who has died by suicide; and 8) Guidance for influencers. DISCUSSION The new guidelines include updated and new information on online communication about self-harm, livestreams, games, pacts, and hoaxes, as well as guidance for influencers. They will be disseminated via a national social media campaign and supported by a series of adult-facing resources. Given the acceptability of the original guidelines and the ubiquitous use of social media by young people, it is hoped that the new guidelines will be a useful resource for young people and adults alike, both in Australia and worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Robinson
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pinar Thorn
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samuel McKay
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura Hemming
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Rikki Battersby-Coulter
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Charlie Cooper
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria Veresova
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angela Li
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicola Reavley
- Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon Rice
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle Lamblin
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Pirkis
- Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dan Reidenberg
- Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, Bloomington, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Vicki Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Jaelea Skehan
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Louise La Sala
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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3
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Leung T, La Sala L, Cooper C, Spittal M, Rice S, Lamblin M, Brown E, Nolan H, Battersby-Coulter R, Rajaram G, Thorn P, Pirkis J, May-Finlay S, Silenzio V, Skehan J, Krysinska K, Bellairs-Walsh I. Testing the Impact of the #chatsafe Intervention on Young People's Ability to Communicate Safely About Suicide on Social Media: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e44300. [PMID: 36800220 PMCID: PMC9984994 DOI: 10.2196/44300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians. One commonly cited explanation is the impact of social media, in particular, the ways in which young people use social media to communicate about their own experiences and their exposure to suicide-related content posted by others. Guidelines designed to assist mainstream media to safely report about suicide are widespread. Until recently, no guidelines existed that targeted social media or young people. In response, we developed the #chatsafe guidelines and a supporting social media campaign, which together make up the #chatsafe intervention. The intervention was tested in a pilot study with positive results. However, the study was limited by the lack of a control group. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the #chatsafe social media intervention on young people's safety and confidence when communicating on the web about suicide. METHODS The study employs a pragmatic, parallel, superiority randomized controlled design. It will be conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement over 18 months. Participants will be 400 young people aged 16-25 years (200 per arm). Participants will be recruited via social media advertising and assessed at 3 time points: time 1-baseline; time 2-8-week postintervention commencement; and time 3-4-week postintervention. They will be asked to complete a weekly survey to monitor safety and evaluate each piece of social media content. The intervention comprises an 8-week social media campaign including social media posts shared on public Instagram profiles. The intervention group will receive the #chatsafe suicide prevention content and the control group will receive sexual health content. Both groups will receive 24 pieces of content delivered to their mobile phones via text message. The primary outcome is safety when communicating on the web about suicide, as measured via the purpose-designed #chatsafe online safety questionnaire. Additional outcomes include willingness to intervene against suicide, internet self-efficacy, safety, and acceptability. RESULTS The study was funded in November 2020, approved by the University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee on October 7, 2022, and prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials registry. Trial recruitment began in November 2022 and study completion is anticipated by June 2024. CONCLUSIONS This will be the first randomized controlled trial internationally to test the impact of a social media intervention designed to equip young people to communicate safely on the web about suicide. Given the rising rates of youth suicide in Australia and the acceptability of social media among young people, incorporating social media-based interventions into the suicide prevention landscape is an obvious next step. This intervention, if effective, could also be extended internationally, thereby improving web-based safety for young people not just in Australia but globally. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12622001397707; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=384318. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/44300.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise La Sala
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Charlie Cooper
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Matthew Spittal
- Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Simon Rice
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Michelle Lamblin
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ellie Brown
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Hayley Nolan
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Rikki Battersby-Coulter
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Gowri Rajaram
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Pinar Thorn
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Jane Pirkis
- Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Summer May-Finlay
- School of Health and Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Vincent Silenzio
- Department of Urban-Global Public Health, Rutgers School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Jaelea Skehan
- Everymind, Newcastle, Australia.,College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Karolina Krysinska
- Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - India Bellairs-Walsh
- Orygen, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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Thorn P, La Sala L, Hetrick S, Rice S, Lamblin M, Robinson J. Motivations and perceived harms and benefits of online communication about self-harm: An interview study with young people. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231176689. [PMID: 37252260 PMCID: PMC10214072 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231176689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Self-harm behaviour is prevalent among young people and online communication about self-harm is frequent. These online communications are associated with potential harms and potential benefits. To date, few studies have explored the motivations and mechanisms involved in youth online communication about self-harm. Objective This study aimed to explore why young people communicate online about self-harm and the perceived benefits and harms of these communications. Methods Twenty young people aged between 18 and 25 years completed an online interview. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Results Four main themes are reported: (1) crossing from offline to online-the double-edged affordances of social media: young people engaged in online communication about self-harm because they were unable or unwilling to speak about their experiences in offline contexts. Online spaces afforded anonymity and peer support, which were associated with benefits and harms; (2) user-generated is not quite the same as user-resonated: perceptions were influenced by whether the young person created or viewed or responded to the content. Written and visual content had pros and cons; (3) it's not just you, it's mostly me-individual characteristics influence perceptions: age and mental state influenced perceptions and behavior; and (4) beyond individuals-parameters are protective: leadership and platform policies and procedures aided safety. Conclusions Online communication about self-harm is neither entirely helpful nor harmful. Perceptions are influenced by individual, social, and systematic factors. Evidence-based guidelines are needed to increase young people's online self-harm literacy and help them build effective communication skills to buffer psychological and potentially physical harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinar Thorn
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Louise La Sala
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah Hetrick
- Department of Psychological Medicine, The
University of Auckland, Auckland CBD, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Simon Rice
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle Lamblin
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jo Robinson
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Shoib S, Chandradasa M, Nahidi M, Amanda TW, Khan S, Saeed F, Swed S, Mazza M, Di Nicola M, Martinotti G, Di Giannantonio M, Armiya’u AY, De Berardis D. Facebook and Suicidal Behaviour: User Experiences of Suicide Notes, Live-Streaming, Grieving and Preventive Strategies-A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192013001. [PMID: 36293584 PMCID: PMC9603228 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facebook represents a new dimension for global information sharing. Suicidal behaviours and attempts are increasingly reported on Facebook. This scoping review explores the various aspects of suicidal behaviours associated with Facebook, discussing the challenges and preventive measures. METHODS PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched for related articles published in English up to October 2021, using different combinations of "Facebook" and "suicide". A group of experts comprising consultant psychiatrists screened the records and read the full-text articles to extract relevant data. Twenty-eight articles were chosen as relevant and included in the review under four selected themes. RESULTS Facebook impacts on suicidal behaviours in different aspects. Announcing suicides through sharing notes or personal information may lead to the prediction of suicide but be harmful to the online audience. Live-streaming videos of suicide is another aspect that questions Facebook's ability to monitor shared contents that can negatively affect the audience. A positive impact is helping bereaved families to share feelings and seek support online, commemorating the lost person by sharing their photos. Moreover, it can provide real-world details of everyday user behaviours, which help predict suicide risk, primarily through novel machine-learning techniques, and provide early warning and valuable help to prevent it. It can also provide a timeline of the user's activities and state of mind before suicide. CONCLUSIONS Social media can detect suicidal tendencies, support those seeking help, comfort family and friends with their grief, and provide insights via timelining the users' activities leading to their suicide. One of the limitations was the lack of quantitative studies evaluating preventative efforts on Facebook. The creators' commitment and the users' social responsibility will be required to create a mentally healthy Facebook environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheikh Shoib
- Department of Psychiatry, Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital, Srinagar 190003, India
| | - Miyuru Chandradasa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11300, Sri Lanka
| | - Mahsa Nahidi
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran
| | - Tan Weiling Amanda
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Sonia Khan
- Frontier Medical and Dental College, Abbottabad 22010, Pakistan
| | - Fahimeh Saeed
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosis Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran 1985713834, Iran
| | - Sarya Swed
- Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo University, Aleppo 12212, Syria
| | - Marianna Mazza
- Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Di Nicola
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University “G. d’Annunzio”, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Aishatu Yusha’u Armiya’u
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi PMB 0248, Nigeria
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Knipe D, Padmanathan P, Newton-Howes G, Chan LF, Kapur N. Suicide and self-harm. Lancet 2022; 399:1903-1916. [PMID: 35512727 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)00173-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Suicide and self-harm are major health and societal issues worldwide, but the greatest burden of both behaviours occurs in low-income and middle-income countries. Although rates of suicide are higher in male than in female individuals, self-harm is more common in female individuals. Rather than having a single cause, suicide and self-harm are the result of a complex interplay of several factors that occur throughout the life course, and vary by gender, age, ethnicity, and geography. Several clinical and public health interventions show promise, although our understanding of their effectiveness has largely originated from high-income countries. Attempting to predict suicide is unlikely to be helpful. Intervention and prevention must include both a clinical and community focus, and every health professional has a crucial part to play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duleeka Knipe
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
| | - Prianka Padmanathan
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Lai Fong Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nav Kapur
- Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK; National Institute for Health Research Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK; Greater Manchester Mental Health National Health Service Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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7
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Farsi D, Martinez-Menchaca HR, Ahmed M, Farsi N. Social Media and Health Care (Part II): Narrative Review of Social Media Use by Patients. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e30379. [PMID: 34994706 PMCID: PMC8783277 DOI: 10.2196/30379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background People are now connected in a borderless web-based world. The modern public, especially the younger generation, relies heavily on the internet as the main source of health-related information. In health care, patients can use social media for more tailored uses such as telemedicine, finding a provider, and for peer support. Objective The aim of this narrative review is to discuss how social media has been used in the health care industry from the perspective of patients and describe the main issues surrounding its use in health care. Methods Between March and June 2020, a review of the literature was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science for English studies that were published since 2007 and discussed the use of social media in health care. In addition to only English publications that discussed the use of social media by patients, publications pertaining to ethical and legal considerations in the use of social media were included. The studies were then categorized as health information, telemedicine, finding a health care provider, peer support and sharing experiences, and influencing positive health behavior. In addition, two more sections were added to the review: issues pertaining to social media use in health care and ethical considerations. Results Initially, 75 studies were included. As the study proceeded, more studies were included, and a total of 91 studies were reviewed, complemented by 1 textbook chapter and 13 web references. Approximately half of the studies were reviews. The first study was published in 2009, and the last was published in 2021, with more than half of the studies published in the last 5 years. The studies were mostly from the United States (n=40), followed by Europe (n=13), and the least from India (n=1). WhatsApp or WeChat was the most investigated social media platform. Conclusions Social media can be used by the public and patients to improve their health and knowledge. However, due diligence must be practiced to assess the credibility of the information obtained and its source. Health care providers, patients, and the public need not forget the risks associated with the use of social media. The limitations and shortcomings of the use of social media by patients should be understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deema Farsi
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hector R Martinez-Menchaca
- Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | | | - Nada Farsi
- Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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8
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La Sala L, Teh Z, Lamblin M, Rajaram G, Rice S, Hill NTM, Thorn P, Krysinska K, Robinson J. Can a social media intervention improve online communication about suicide? A feasibility study examining the acceptability and potential impact of the #chatsafe campaign. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253278. [PMID: 34129610 PMCID: PMC8205132 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a need for effective and youth-friendly approaches to suicide prevention, and social media presents a unique opportunity to reach young people. Although there is some evidence to support the delivery of population-wide suicide prevention campaigns, little is known about their capacity to change behaviour, particularly among young people and in the context of social media. Even less is known about the safety and feasibility of using social media for the purpose of suicide prevention. Based on the #chatsafe guidelines, this study examines the acceptability, safety and feasibility of a co-designed social media campaign. It also examines its impact on young people's willingness to intervene against suicide and their perceived self-efficacy, confidence and safety when communicating on social media platforms about suicide. A sample of 189 young people aged 16-25 years completed three questionnaires across a 20-week period (4 weeks pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and at 4-week follow up). The intervention took the form of a 12-week social media campaign delivered to participants via direct message. Participants reported finding the intervention acceptable and they also reported improvements in their willingness to intervene against suicide, and their perceived self-efficacy, confidence and safety when communicating on social media about suicide. Findings from this study present a promising picture for the acceptability and potential impact of a universal suicide prevention campaign delivered through social media, and suggest that it can be safe to utilize social media for the purpose of suicide prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise La Sala
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zoe Teh
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle Lamblin
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gowri Rajaram
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon Rice
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicole T. M. Hill
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Pinar Thorn
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Karolina Krysinska
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health, The Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jo Robinson
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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