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Chen SS, Lam TP, Lam KF, Lo TL, Chao DVK, Mak KY, Lam EWW, Tang WS, Chan HY, Yip PSF. The Use of Close Friends on Instagram, Help-Seeking Willingness, and Suicidality Among Hong Kong Youth: Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e37695. [PMID: 36223182 PMCID: PMC9607886 DOI: 10.2196/37695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Social networking sites (SNSs) have gained popularity in recent years for help seeking and self-distress expression among adolescents. Although online suicidal expression is believed to have major benefits, various concerns have also been raised, particularly around privacy issues. Understanding youths’ help-seeking behavior on SNSs is critical for effective suicide prevention; however, most research neglects the impacts of the private SNS context. Objective This study aims to examine youths’ private SNS use via the new Instagram feature, Close Friends, and its association with both online and offline help-seeking willingness as well as youths’ suicidality. Methods This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach with a combination of explorative qualitative interviews and a systematic quantitative survey, targeting youth aged 15-19 years in Hong Kong. The motivations for utilizing Close Friends and concerns regarding online expression were addressed in the focus group and individual interviews (n=40). A cross-sectional survey (n=1676) was conducted subsequently with eligible secondary school students to examine the prevalence of Close Friends usage, their online and offline help-seeking willingness, and suicide-related experiences. Results A total of 3 primary motives for using Close Friends were identified during interviews, including (1) interaction and help seeking, (2) release of negative emotions, and (3) ventilation and self-expression. Most participants also highlighted the privacy concerns associated with public online communication and the importance of contacting close friends for emotional support. Survey results showed that use of Close Friends was quite prevalent among adolescents (1163/1646, 70.66%), with around 46% (754/1646, 45.81%) of respondents being frequent users. Differences by gender and school academic banding were also revealed. Regarding help-seeking intentions, youths were generally positive about seeking help from peers and friends offline (1010/1266, 79.78%) yet negative about seeking assistance from online friends or professionals with whom they had not yet developed a real-world connection (173/1266, 13.67%). Most notably, frequencies of Close Friends usage were differentially associated with online and offline help-seeking willingness and youths’ suicidality. Compared with nonusers, those who had ever used the feature were more likely to seek offline support (adjusted odds ratios [AORs] 1.82-2.36), whereas heavy use of Close Friends was associated with increased odds of online help-seeking willingness (AOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06-2.93) and a higher risk of suicidality (AOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.01-2.31). Conclusions The popularity of Close Friends reflects the increasing need for private online expression among youth. This study demonstrates the importance of Close Friends for self-expression and private conversation and inadequacy of peer support for suicidal adolescents. Further research is needed to identify the causal relationship between Close Friends usage and help-seeking willingness to guide the advancement of suicide prevention strategies. Researchers and social media platforms may cooperate to co-design a risk monitoring system tailored to the private SNS context, assisting professionals in identifying youth at risk of suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sikky Shiqi Chen
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tai Pong Lam
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok Fai Lam
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tak Lam Lo
- Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - David Vai Kiong Chao
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Hospital Authority Kowloon East Cluster, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ki Yan Mak
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Edmund Wing Wo Lam
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai Sin Tang
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hoi Yan Chan
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Siu Fai Yip
- Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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2
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Fong TCT, Cheng Q, Yip PSF. Change in suicidal ideation and associated factors among young adults in Hong Kong from 2018 to 2019: a latent transition analysis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2022; 57:1027-1038. [PMID: 34817637 PMCID: PMC8611992 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-021-02203-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Suicide in young adulthood is a vital public health concern. There have been few systematic studies that examined the prevalence and transition of suicidal ideation classes in young adults and the factors associated with the transition. METHODS This two-wave survey recruited 1269 young adults (Mean age = 24.0 years, 70.1% males) in Hong Kong. The participants completed the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale, Chinese Health Questionnaire, and help-seeking behaviors in 2018 and 2019. Latent profile analysis was used to classify the participants into latent classes of suicidal ideation with substantive checking under the 3-step approach. Latent transition analysis with measurement invariance examined the transition among the latent classes from 2018 to 2019 and the associations with help-seeking behaviors and change in psychological distress. RESULTS Three latent classes of suicidal ideation were identified and over two-thirds of the participants belonged to the Low-risk class with minimal suicidal ideation. The prevalence of the High-risk class dropped from 10.2 to 7.2%, while that of the Moderate-risk class remained stable from 2018 to 2019. Increases in psychological distress predicted higher probabilities to remain at or transit into more risky classes. Engagement in help-seeking behaviors showed differential transitions in suicidal ideation across time. CONCLUSION The findings suggest three latent classes of suicidal ideation with distinct profiles among the young adults. Deterioration in psychological distress showed a temporal effect on worsening of suicidal ideation over a 1-year period. Future studies should elucidate the comparative effectiveness of help-seeking behaviors via online and offline channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ted C. T. Fong
- Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qijin Cheng
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul S. F. Yip
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, 2/F, The HKJC Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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3
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Gan CCR, Feng S, Feng H, Fu KW, Davies SE, Grépin KA, Morgan R, Smith J, Wenham C. #WuhanDiary and #WuhanLockdown: gendered posting patterns and behaviours on Weibo during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2021-008149. [PMID: 35414567 PMCID: PMC9006193 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Social media can be both a source of information and misinformation during health emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media became a ubiquitous tool for people to communicate and represents a rich source of data researchers can use to analyse users’ experiences, knowledge and sentiments. Research on social media posts during COVID-19 has identified, to date, the perpetuity of traditional gendered norms and experiences. Yet these studies are mostly based on Western social media platforms. Little is known about gendered experiences of lockdown communicated on non-Western social media platforms. Using data from Weibo, China’s leading social media platform, we examine gendered user patterns and sentiment during the first wave of the pandemic between 1 January 2020 and 1 July 2020. We find that Weibo posts by self-identified women and men conformed with some gendered norms identified on other social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic (posting patterns and keyword usage) but not all (sentiment). This insight may be important for targeted public health messaging on social media during future health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie Cai Ru Gan
- Centre for Environment and Population Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Shuo Feng
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Huiyun Feng
- School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - King-Wa Fu
- Journalism and Media Studies Centre, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sara E Davies
- School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen A Grépin
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Rosemary Morgan
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Julia Smith
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Clare Wenham
- Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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4
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Yeo TED. "Do You Know How Much I Suffer?": How Young People Negotiate the Tellability of Their Mental Health Disruption in Anonymous Distress Narratives on Social Media. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2021; 36:1606-1615. [PMID: 32506969 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2020.1775447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of mental distress presents significant difficulties and dilemmas for adolescents and early adults about being open with their troubles and emotions. To better understand the communication practices and challenges that reflect the lived realities of marginalized youth struggling with mental health disruption, this study examines 136 anonymous personal stories disclosing self-harm behaviors or suicidal thoughts on a Facebook "secrets" page for Hong Kong students. The narrative analysis unveils young people's anecdotal accounts of hidden grievances and struggles around their mental distress, hitherto untold not because they are too difficult to tell but because they are too negative to be heard. Extending the concept of tellability, this study illustrates how anonymous distress storytelling on social media enables silenced and isolated distressed youth to resist the denial - invisibility, discredit, and mischaracterization - of their suffering by turning their disruptive experiences into stories worth telling through disclosure, clarification, and testimony. This study further clarifies the salient interpretive frameworks that shape young people's experience and communication of mental distress: the tyranny of happiness depicted to engender distress and languages of suffering used to resist culpability and plead for social respite. It highlights the disconnection in interpretations regarding the transitory nature of distress and its controllability as a major source of communication gap and interpersonal communication breakdowns. The findings call on health communication practices around mental health promotion to refrain from highlighting individual deficiencies or messages of positivity and speak out on the structural inconsistencies and communication denial that perpetuate and silence youth distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien Ee Dominic Yeo
- Department of Communication Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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5
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Nesi J, Burke TA, Bettis AH, Kudinova AY, Thompson EC, MacPherson HA, Fox KA, Lawrence HR, Thomas SA, Wolff JC, Altemus MK, Soriano S, Liu RT. Social media use and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev 2021; 87:102038. [PMID: 34034038 PMCID: PMC8243901 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite considerable public and scholarly debate about the role of social media in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs), no comprehensive, quantitative synthesis of this literature has previously been undertaken. The current systematic review and meta-analysis examines associations between social media use and SITBs, including suicidal ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). A range of social media behaviors and experiences were identified, including cybervictimization and perpetration, exposure to and generation of SITB-related content, problematic use, sexting, social media importance, and frequency of use. A systematic search of PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, and the references of prior reviews yielded 61 eligible studies. Results largely suggested medium effect sizes for associations between specific social media constructs (cybervictimization, SITB-related social media use, problematic social media use) and SITBs. There was no association between frequency of social media use and SITBs; however, studies on this topic were limited. The majority of studies identified focused on cybervictimization, and results suggested positive associations with all SITBs, with the association between cybervictimization and suicidal ideation stronger for adolescents than adults. Overall, findings highlight the utility of examining specific social media behaviors and experiences, and point to the need for more research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Nesi
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States; Rhode Island Hospital, United States.
| | - Taylor A Burke
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States; Rhode Island Hospital, United States
| | | | - Anastacia Y Kudinova
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States; Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, United States
| | - Elizabeth C Thompson
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States; Rhode Island Hospital, United States
| | - Heather A MacPherson
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States; Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, United States
| | - Kara A Fox
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Hannah R Lawrence
- McLean Hospital, United States; Havard Medical School, United States
| | - Sarah A Thomas
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States; Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, United States
| | - Jennifer C Wolff
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States; Rhode Island Hospital, United States
| | | | - Sheiry Soriano
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, United States
| | - Richard T Liu
- Havard Medical School, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, United States
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6
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Rice VJ, Schroeder PJ. In-Person and Virtual World Mindfulness Training: Trust, Satisfaction, and Learning. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 2021; 24:526-535. [PMID: 33656351 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2019.0590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Virtual worlds (VWs) present a viable, low-cost delivery mechanism for telehealth services. Although preliminary reports support the effectiveness of VWs in terms of health metrics, few studies have examined the perceived benefits and learning potential for military service members and veterans. Trust is integral to any interaction and may be even more important, and problematic to establish, during virtual interactions than in-person (IP) communications. The purpose of this study was to compare active duty and veteran U.S. Military service members' (n = 92) self-reported trust, class satisfaction, and didactic learning after completing either an 8-week training course in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) delivered IP or an 8-week mindfulness meditation class based on MBSR via the VW of Second Life. Results showed that learning performance was not significantly different between the IP and VW groups (p > 0.05). Although overall trust was high for both groups, participants in the IP group reported greater trust and class satisfaction compared with the VW group (p < 0.05). Trust, satisfaction, and learning were significantly correlated with one another, and trust in the instructor significantly predicted trust-in-classmates, trust-in-self, and class satisfaction for both groups (p < 0.05). In this study, IP group training was superior to VW training in terms of self-reported greater trust in the instructor, classmates, and self, and higher satisfaction with the training. Trust in the instructor is particularly important for group training, whether IP or in a VW. This study reiterates the arduous task of establishing trust in a VW setting and suggests that creating trust between the instructor and participants is high priority as a leading objective for VW communications. Suggestions for building trust are tight collaboration and clear communication, along with supporting and advocating for one another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie J Rice
- Army Medical Department Field Office, Army Futures Command, Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Army Research Laboratory Future Soldier Technologies Division, Real-World Soldier Quantification Branch, FCDD-RLH-FA, Fort Sam Houston (JBSA), Texas, USA
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7
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Macrynikola N, Auad E, Menjivar J, Miranda R. Does social media use confer suicide risk? A systematic review of the evidence. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
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8
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Li TMH, Leung CSY. Exploring student mental health and intention to use online counseling in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2020; 74:564-565. [PMID: 32686896 PMCID: PMC7405056 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tim M H Li
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cassie S Y Leung
- Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
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9
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Watkins DC, Goodwill JR, Johnson NC, Casanova A, Wei T, Allen JO, Williams EDG, Anyiwo N, Jackson ZA, Talley LM, Abelson JM. An Online Behavioral Health Intervention Promoting Mental Health, Manhood, and Social Support for Young Black Men: The YBMen Project. Am J Mens Health 2020; 14:1557988320937215. [PMID: 32618489 PMCID: PMC7492864 DOI: 10.1177/1557988320937215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional definitions of mental health, manhood, and social support create barriers to accessing behavioral health care for Black men ages 18 to 30. Targeted behavioral health interventions sensitive to culture, social norms, and gender that circumvent these barriers are desperately needed to improve access and integrated care for this group. This article reports mixed methods findings from the 2017 iteration of the Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) project, a social media-based, psychoeducational program that promotes mental health, progressive definitions of manhood, and sustainable social support for Black men. Young Black men (n = 350) across two universities in the Midwest completed baseline surveys on their mental health, definitions of manhood, and social support. Forty of the men participated in the YBMen intervention and at postintervention reported experiencing fewer depressive symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, Z = -2.05, p < .01) and the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS; Z = -1.76, p < .05). There were also changes on the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI) for Self-Reliance (Z = -0.34, p = .26) and Heterosexual Self-Presentation (Z = -0.18, p = .59), though these changes were not statistically significant. A qualitative review of postintervention interviews revealed participants' appreciation of the YBMen project and its influence on their mental health, manhood, and social support. Programmatic efforts that support the behavioral health, positive development, and social relationships of Black men translate into positive families, communities, and experiences as they live, learn, love, and work over the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne C. Watkins
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI, USA
- Institute for Social Research, Ann
Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | | | - Tao Wei
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jamie M. Abelson
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI, USA
- Institute for Social Research, Ann
Arbor, MI, USA
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10
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Notredame CE, Morgiève M, Morel F, Berrouiguet S, Azé J, Vaiva G. Distress, Suicidality, and Affective Disorders at the Time of Social Networks. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2019; 21:98. [PMID: 31522268 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-019-1087-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We reviewed how scholars recently addressed the complex relationship that binds distress, affective disorders, and suicidal behaviors on the one hand and social networking on the other. We considered the latest machine learning performances in detecting affective-related outcomes from social media data, and reviewed understandings of how, why, and with what consequences distressed individuals use social network sites. Finally, we examined how these insights may concretely instantiate on the individual level with a qualitative case series. RECENT FINDINGS Machine learning classifiers are progressively stabilizing with moderate to high performances in detecting affective-related diagnosis, symptoms, and risks from social media linguistic markers. Qualitatively, such markers appear to translate ambivalent and socially constrained motivations such as self-disclosure, passive support seeking, and connectedness reinforcement. Binding data science and psychosocial research appears as the unique condition to ground a translational web-clinic for treating and preventing affective-related issues on social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles-Edouard Notredame
- Psychiatry Department, CHU Lille, 2 rue André Verhaeghe, F-59000, Lille, France. .,SCALab, CNRS UMR9193, F-59000, Lille, France. .,Groupement d'Étude et de Prévention du Suicide, Saint-Benoît, France. .,Papageno Program, Lille, France.
| | - M Morgiève
- Groupement d'Étude et de Prévention du Suicide, Saint-Benoît, France.,Papageno Program, Lille, France.,Centre de Recherche Médecine, Sciences, Santé, Santé Mentale, Société (CERMES3), UMR CNRS 8211-Unité Inserm 988-EHESS-Université Paris Descartes, 75006, Paris, France.,Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, ICM - Brain and Spine Institute, 47-83, boulevard de l'hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
| | - F Morel
- Psychiatry Department, CHU Lille, 2 rue André Verhaeghe, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - S Berrouiguet
- Groupement d'Étude et de Prévention du Suicide, Saint-Benoît, France.,Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Brest à Bohars, Pôle de psychiatrie, 29820, Bohars, France
| | - J Azé
- LIRMM, UMR 5506, Montpellier University/CNRS, 860 rue de St Priest, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - G Vaiva
- Psychiatry Department, CHU Lille, 2 rue André Verhaeghe, F-59000, Lille, France.,SCALab, CNRS UMR9193, F-59000, Lille, France.,Groupement d'Étude et de Prévention du Suicide, Saint-Benoît, France
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11
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Cheng Q, Shum AKY, Ip FWL, Wong HK, Yip WKK, Kam AHL, Yip PSF. Co-Creation and Impacts of a Suicide Prevention Video. CRISIS 2019; 41:7-14. [PMID: 31066312 DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: Youth suicide has become an emerging public health challenge globally. In this study we leveraged the power of social media to better engage the youth population. Aims: We aimed to investigate the impacts of promoting suicide prevention through social media and evaluate the co-creation process of the project with a popular YouTuber in Hong Kong. Method: A YouTube suicide prevention short film was co-produced by the YouTuber and the research team. We examined the co-creation process using thematic analysis, and analyzed the YouTube video statistics and the data collected from the online survey and public comments. Results: The short film brought positive perceived changes in the audience's suicide prevention knowledge, attitude, and behaviors. Three facilitating factors and one challenge of the co-creation process were identified. The short film statistics and demographics of the audience were also extracted and analyzed. Limitations: There was a small sample size and a lack of a control group in this study. Conclusion: Suicide prevention promotion by the YouTuber was promising. This study demonstrates the effectiveness in promoting suicide prevention via social media and provides a framework for future studies to evaluate similar forms of collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijin Cheng
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Angie Kwan Yu Shum
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Flora Wai Lam Ip
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ho Kit Wong
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Wilson Kam Kai Yip
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Aron Hin Lun Kam
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Paul S F Yip
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.,Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
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12
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Law YW, Kwok CL, Chan PY, Chan M, Yip P. Online social work engagement and empowerment for young internet users: A quasi-experiment. J Affect Disord 2019; 250:99-107. [PMID: 30849615 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.02.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing penetration of Internet use among young people poses challenges for youth service engagement through bricks-and-mortar youth centers owing to the decline in the number of walk-ins. This study was to identify the psychosocial and behavioral outcome changes effected through online engagement and empowerment interventions offered to at-risk youths by three local social work youth service providers. METHODS A quasi-experimental design was adopted to compare the effects of online engagement and empowerment on 182 young service users with 191 age- and gender-matched controlled participants over nine months. RESULTS Significant improvement in emotional distress and social withdrawal behaviors were found in the intervention group. LIMITATIONS Non-randomized study, nonequivalent comparison group DISCUSSION: Whether online social work services can substitute offline services should be further examined in randomized controlled trials. Online social work intervention identifies its acceptability among young people and professional feedback holds promise for providing a complimentary route of alleviating emotional distress and social withdrawal in at-risk youths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yik Wa Law
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Chi Leung Kwok
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pik Ying Chan
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Melissa Chan
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Paul Yip
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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13
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Law YW, Yeung TL, Ip FWL, Yip PSF. Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention: Collective Impact of Engagement with Community Stakeholders. JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE-BASED SOCIAL WORK (2019) 2019; 16:211-227. [PMID: 30784376 DOI: 10.1080/23761407.2019.1578318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: In response to the rising suicide trend in Hong Kong, the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention ("CSRP") was established in 2002, with the aim to capitalize on the collective impact of research-support practices to prevent suicides.Method: The CSRP has since become an international knowledge hub that applies a public health approach and innovative strategies to address suicide-related problems at multiple levels.Results: The CSRP actively engages in research, teaching, and knowledge exchange with community stakeholders. These effort are associated with Hong Kong's more than 30% reduction in suicide rates between 2003 and 2016.Discussion: The rationale for and examples of the CSRP's practices in face of the suicide prevention challenges lay ahead were also discussed.Conclusion: The outcomes of these practices, which hold great potential for suicide prevention worldwide, have contributed to important academic debates in the field of suicidology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yik Wa Law
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PRC
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PRC
| | - Tsz Long Yeung
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PRC
| | - Flora Wai Lam Ip
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PRC
| | - Paul Siu Fai Yip
- Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PRC
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PRC
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14
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Lopez-Castroman J, Moulahi B, Azé J, Bringay S, Deninotti J, Guillaume S, Baca-Garcia E. Mining social networks to improve suicide prevention: A scoping review. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:616-625. [PMID: 30809836 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Attention about the risks of online social networks (SNs) has been called upon reports describing their use to express emotional distress and suicidal ideation or plans. On the Internet, cyberbullying, suicide pacts, Internet addiction, and "extreme" communities seem to increase suicidal behavior (SB). In this study, the scientific literature about SBs and SNs was narratively reviewed. Some authors focus on detecting at-risk populations through data mining, identification of risks factors, and web activity patterns. Others describe prevention practices on the Internet, such as websites, screening, and applications. Targeted interventions through SNs are also contemplated when suicidal ideation is present. Multiple predictive models should be defined, implemented, tested, and combined in order to deal with the risk of SB through an effective decision support system. This endeavor might require a reorganization of care for SNs users presenting suicidal ideation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Lopez-Castroman
- INSERM U888, La Colombière Hospital, Montpellier, France.,Department of Adult Psychiatry, CHRU Nimes, Nimes, France.,Departments of Psychiatry, Media and Internet, and Telecommunication and Networks, University of Montpellier UM, Montpellier, France
| | - Bilel Moulahi
- Departments of Psychiatry, Media and Internet, and Telecommunication and Networks, University of Montpellier UM, Montpellier, France.,LIRMM UMR 5506, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérôme Azé
- Departments of Psychiatry, Media and Internet, and Telecommunication and Networks, University of Montpellier UM, Montpellier, France.,LIRMM UMR 5506, Montpellier, France
| | - Sandra Bringay
- Departments of Psychiatry, Media and Internet, and Telecommunication and Networks, University of Montpellier UM, Montpellier, France.,LIRMM UMR 5506, Montpellier, France.,Department of Applied Mathematics and Informatics, Paul-Valery University, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Sebastien Guillaume
- INSERM U888, La Colombière Hospital, Montpellier, France.,Departments of Psychiatry, Media and Internet, and Telecommunication and Networks, University of Montpellier UM, Montpellier, France.,Department of Emergency Psychiatry and Post-Acute Care, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Enrique Baca-Garcia
- Department of Psychiatry, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Rey Juan Carlos, Mostoles, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Villalba, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Infanta Elena, Valdemoro, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Madrid Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.,CIBERSAM (Centro de Investigacion en Salud Mental), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Catolica del Maule, Talca, Chile
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15
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Measuring the relationship between social media use and addictive behavior and depression and suicide ideation among university students. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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16
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Notredame CE, Grandgenèvre P, Pauwels N, Morgiève M, Wathelet M, Vaiva G, Séguin M. Leveraging the Web and Social Media to Promote Access to Care Among Suicidal Individuals. Front Psychol 2018; 9:1338. [PMID: 30154742 PMCID: PMC6102313 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
After two decades of exponential development, the Internet has become an inseparable component of suicide prevention matters. More specifically, social media has turned out to be a privileged space for suicidal individuals to express their distress and seek support. Although this tendency carries with it specific risks and challenges, it creates unprecedented opportunities to face the challenges of help seeking and access to care. In this paper, we present the empirical, technological, and theoretical evidence supporting the implementation of a digitally augmented prevention policy that would increase its reach. Congruent to the clinical observations and theories on the help-seeking process, we argue that social media can help undertake three main functions of increasing proactivity to bring suffering Web users to care. The gateway function relates to the properties of social media interactions to leverage help-seeking barriers and enable ambivalent individuals to access the mental healthcare system. The communication outreach function aims to broadcast pro-help-seeking messages, while drawing on the functional structure of the social media network to increase its audience. The intervention outreach function consists in using machine learning algorithms to detect social media users with the highest risk of suicidal behaviors and give them a chance to overcome their dysfunctional reluctance to access help. We propose to combine these three functions into a single coherent operational model. This would involve the joint actions of a communication and intervention team on social networks, working in close collaboration with conventional mental health professionals, emergency service, and community resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles-Edouard Notredame
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France.,SCALab, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Lille, France.,McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Grandgenèvre
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France.,SCALab, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Lille, France
| | - Nathalie Pauwels
- Fédération Régionale de Recherche en Psychiatrie et Santé Mentale des Hauts-de-France, Lille, France
| | - Margot Morgiève
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondation FondaMental, Hospital Albert Chenevier, Créteil, France
| | - Marielle Wathelet
- Department of Public Health, Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Guillaume Vaiva
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France.,SCALab, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Lille, France.,Fédération Régionale de Recherche en Psychiatrie et Santé Mentale des Hauts-de-France, Lille, France
| | - Monique Séguin
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada
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