This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Exposure to suicide on social media does not affect suicidal ideation behavior rates

SAN FRANCISCO — Findings presented at the 2016 AAP National Conference and Exhibition indicated no significant association between highly profiled suicides on social media and emergency visits rates for suicidal ideation, self-harm and self-poisoning among adolescents.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young Canadians and there is evidence that ED presentations for suicidal ideation are increasing. Given the growing use of social media among children, there are concerns of links with depression, suicidal ideation and a clustering of suicide cases,” Naveen Poonai, MD, MSc, of Western University in London, Ontario, wrote. “The case of Amanda Todd, a 15-year-old female whose suicide and YouTube video in 2012 received widespread media coverage provided a unique opportunity to study the influence of social media on pediatric suicidal behavior.”

To assess associations between social media and suicidal behavior in adolescents, researchers conducted a retrospective population-based, time-series analysis using the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database for suicidal ideation and attempt between October 2002 and October 2014. Autoregressive integrated moving-average models were utilized to determine the impact of Amanda Todd’s death on Oct. 10, 2012 and monthly rates of suicidal ideation.

During the study period, there were 39,017 ED visits for suicidal ideation; 17,234 visits for intentional self-poisoning; and 8,200 visits for intentional self-harm.

Of these, 27,277 resulted in death or admission to ICU.

The proportion of visits for suicidal ideation, self-harm and self-poisoning were not significantly associated with the time of Todd’s death among children aged 5 to 10 years and 11 to 17 years.

However, ED visits for suicidal ideation, self-harm and self-poisoning significantly increased among children aged 11 to 17 years starting in June 2011. Rates continued to rise (P < .001).

The proportion of ED visits that lead to death and ICU stay was not significantly associated with the intervention among either age group.

“Our results suggest that despite provincial funding initiatives and anti-bullying campaigns, [ED] visits for suicidal behavior in Ontario, Canada have been increasing among adolescents for the last 5 years. However, this increase should not necessarily be attributed to social media and future research should focus on elucidating other reasons for this worrisome trend,” Poonai said in a press release. – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Poonai N, et al. The association of publicized suicides on social media and emergency department visits for suicidal behavior in children: A population based time series analysis. Presented at: AAP National Conference and Exhibition; Oct. 21-25, 2016; San Francisco.

Disclosure: Healio.com/Psychiatry was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.