Suicide and the Internet

Suicide and the Internet have increasingly important relationships as Internet use becomes more ubiquitous. Several Internet suicides have occurred, and issues involving social media and suicide have gained some attention. A survey has found that suicide-risk individuals who went online for suicide-related purposes, compared with online users who did not, reported greater suicide-risk symptoms, were less likely to seek help, and perceived less social support.^[1] Jurisdictional hindrances have sometimes prevented governments from effectively restricting pro-suicide sites and sites that describe suicide methods.^[2] An Israeli site, SAHAR, sought to prevent suicide by providing supportive conversations and referrals to help resources.^[3] There is some concern in the medical community that certain suicide methods described on the Internet, that can be easily found by searching for terms such as "suicide," "suicide methods," "suicide sure methods," "most effective methods of suicide," "methods of suicide," "ways to commit suicide," "how to commit suicide," "how to kill yourself," "easy suicide methods," "best suicide methods," "pain-free suicide," or "quick suicide,"^[4] are potentially more lethal than methods people might otherwise consider.^[5] In 2008 police in the United Kingdom expressed concern that "Internet cults" and the desire for achieving prestige via online memorials may encourage suicides.^[6]

See also

• Internet suicide pact

References