What They Le* Behind - Ashley Jadine Duncan

Transcription

1 What They Le* Behind - Ashley Jadine Duncan

2 The Link between Social Media and Suicide Hope and Healing Center Seminar Series Renata L. Nero, Ph.D. September 29, 2015

3 Learning Objectives This is a beginning to intermediate seminar. Upon completion of this seminar, the attendees will be able to: 1. Recognize the warning signs of suicidal behavior. 2. Articulate specific ways that social media can increase the risk of suicidal behavior. 3. Distinguish between monitoring and spying when it comes to a loved one s social media use. 4. Summarize opening statements to begin a conversation with a suicidal loved one. 5. Identify specific ways that social media can help prevent suicidal behavior.

4 Outline Definitions Warning Signs What is Social Media? Specific Risks of Social Media What to Say if a Loved One is Suicidal What to Do if a Loved One is Suicidal Summary

5 De#initions Suicide Death caused by self- directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior. Suicide A purpose- driven behavior designed either to eliminate or manage unbearable levels of pain in one s current life circumstances.

6 Warning Signs - Conditions Death or terminal illness of relapve or friend Divorce, separapon, broken relaponship Loss of health Loss of job, home, status, money, self- esteem Alcohol or drug abuse Depression

7 Warning Signs Emotional and Behavioral Overwhelming Pain Hopelessness and Powerlessness Worthlessness (no one cares) Sad, anxious, irritable, withdrawn Social isolapon Declining performance and interests Neglect of personal welfare AlteraPons in sleeping and/or eapng habits

8 Warning Signs Suicidal Behavior Previous awempts Explicit statements of suicidal feelings Plan, acquiring means, rehearsal, sezng Pme Self- inflicted injuries Reckless behavior Making out a will; giving away possessions Saying goodbye Ambiguous verbal behavior

9 Who s at Risk? Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students Suicide is the third leading cause of death for persons between the ages of 15 and 24 Rate may have increased by 40% over past decade Actual rate may be 25-30% higher

10 Suicide - Summary Suicide is the result of an unpmely convergence of mulpple psychiatric, psychological, social, relaponal, environmental, occupaponal, cultural, medical, academic stressors that severely challenges an individual s capacity to cope. (Edwin Shneidman quote taken from Suicide & Psychological Pain, KloW, 2012)

11 Social Media What is it? A fusion of technology with social interacpon via Internet- based applicapons that allow the creapon and exchange of user- generated content (Luxton, June, & Fairall, 2012). Examples chat rooms, blogging web sites, video sites, social networking sites, electronic bullepn boards, e- mail, text messaging, video chat

12 Does the Internet Help or Hinder Suicide Prevention? Difficult to assess Indirect and complex associapon Legal complexipes involved Freedom of speech and civil liberpes

13 Speci#ic Risks Social Media and Suicide Easy to access prosuicide informapon on the Internet Cyberbullying and cyber harassment Cyberbullicide Suicide pact Cybersuicide Media contagion Chat rooms and discussion forums

14 Youth and Technology 22% log onto their favorite social media sites more than 10 Pmes per day 75% have cell phone 7.5 hours per day spent on electronic media 1 in 5 teens engage in sexpng Over 50% use Internet to do schoolwork

15 Risks of Increased Time Spent on Internet Increased risk of exposure to cyberaggression About 1/3 report being targeted Increased risk of Facebook depression Increased risk of making an inappropriate post Increased risk of limited direct interacpon between parents and youth

16 Becoming a Part of Your Loved One s Cyberworld Establish boundaries about use of technology Learn how to create a profile Friend your loved one Model balance between high tech and high touch Device- free mealpmes and bedpmes Keep the computer centrally located Remind youth that there is no such thing as privacy on the Internet

17 What to Say Are you having thoughts of suicide? You need to hear that people do get through this even people who feel as badly as you are feeling now. Give yourself some distance. Say to yourself, I will wait 24 hours before I do anything. Or a week. Remember that feeling and acpons are two different things just because you feel like killing yourself, doesn t mean you have to actually do it right this minute.

18 What to Say (cont d) People o*en turn to suicide because they are seeking relief from pain. Remember that relief is a feeling. And you have be alive to feel it. You will not feel the relief you so desperately seek, if you are dead. You are not a bad person, or crazy, or weak, or flawed, because you feel suicidal. It doesn t even mean that you really want to die it only means that you have more pain than you can cope with right now.

19 What to Do Take it seriously Remember: Suicidal behavior is a cry for help Be willing to give and get help sooner rather than later Listen Ask: Are you having suicidal thoughts? Do not leave an acutely suicidal person alone Urge professional help No secrets

20 Prevention Social Media and Suicide Social networking sites for suicide prevenpon can facilitate social connecpons among peers with similar experiences and increase awareness of prevenpon programs, crisis help lines, and other support and educaponal resources. (Luxton et al, 2012)

21 Speci#ic Examples of Prevention Social Media and Suicide Panic- buwon applicapon to report cyberbullying Suicide alert reporpng system on Facebook U.S. military use of social media to increase suicide awareness and prevenpon

22 If your organization has an online presence (e.g., web site, blog, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube), you or other users could encounter someone suicidal. *For questions or feedback, please 3/12/2013 Reidenberg, D., Wolens, F., James C.

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24 Summary Ways of understanding suicidal behavior There are risks and benefits of social media when it comes to suicide prevenpon You can monitor your loved one s Internet use and without snooping What to say to a suicidal loved one The good news - - social media sites are assuming more and more responsibility for suicide prevenpon