Description
Suicide is a global health phenomenon and claims the lives of close to 800,000 people every
year. Its far-reaching social, emotional, and economic consequences make suicide one of the
leading causes of premature death worldwide. Furthermore, it is the second leading cause of
death among young people aged 15-19 years-old (World Health Organization, 2018). Over the
past decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of social media, which has been
linked to depression and suicidality (Memon, Sharma, Mohite, & Jain, 2018). While social media
is still considered a relatively new phenomenon, its popularity continues to increase. There is
significant evidence that the use of the Internet and social media can influence suicide-related
behavior (Luxton, June, & Fairall, 2012). There is continual debate on whether this improper use
of social media should be included as a disorder associated to addiction and its
psychopathological meaning (Tonioni et??al., 2012;??Tonioni et??al., 2014;??Lam, 2014; Jasso-
Medrano, J. & L?_pez-Rosales, F., 2018). This presentation will investigate the relationship
between pathological Internet use (Internet addiction) and suicidality. It will also examine
Internet-based suicide prevention and explore the effects of pro-suicide Web sites.
Presented by: Cherry Ferguson, M.A.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Investigate the relationship between pathological Internet use (Internet addiction) and suicidality
- Explore Internet-based suicide prevention
- Examine the effects of pro-suicide Web sites
