Internet Use Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Help-Seeking – Preliminary Results of a Study with Depressive Patients
Introduction Suicide-related Internet use is becoming more common, and many research study its potential risks and benefits. Objectives Data on suicidal thoughts and Internet use of patients with depressive disorders were collected to assess their suicide-related Internet use and its relation to h...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822021630/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1827753539555819520 |
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| author | V. Voros Z. Szabo E. Torma A. Nagy J. Fekete T. Tényi S. Fekete P. Osvath |
| author_facet | V. Voros Z. Szabo E. Torma A. Nagy J. Fekete T. Tényi S. Fekete P. Osvath |
| author_sort | V. Voros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Suicide-related Internet use is becoming more common, and many research study its potential risks and benefits.
Objectives
Data on suicidal thoughts and Internet use of patients with depressive disorders were collected to assess their suicide-related Internet use and its relation to help-seeking preferences.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were completed to assess Internet use patterns and suicidal thoughts among patients treated with depressive disorders, and preferred forms of help-seeking were also examined.
Results
113 patients completed the interviews, most of them spend more hours a day using the Internet. More than 80% came across suicide-related contents while browsing, a quarter reported specific search for suicidal contents. In case of suicidal thoughts, three-quarters of depressed patients would seek help from a mental health professional, two-thirds from their partners, half from friends, and nearly one-third from parents, other relatives or from GPs. Most patients would prefer offline (personal) help for their psychological problems and suicidal thoughts, online methods were less preferred, with only one-fifth choosing these options. However, a third of them also considered it probable that they would not ask anyone for help.
Conclusions
Despite of the frequent use of the Internet, online help-seeking is less common in depressive patients. However, in the times of pandemic, online help facilities may provide an opportunity to prevent suicidal behavior for those, who have suicidal thoughts and use the Internet regularly, especially searching for suicide-related contents. In the future, further research is needed to develop more effective online suicide prevention programs and applications.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:37:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2b509c33f5774df4b9bab1cd804133d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:37:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b509c33f5774df4b9bab1cd804133d62023-11-17T05:09:08ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S835S83510.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2163Internet Use Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Help-Seeking – Preliminary Results of a Study with Depressive PatientsV. Voros0Z. Szabo1E. Torma2A. Nagy3J. Fekete4T. Tényi5S. Fekete6P. Osvath7University of Pécs, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Pécs, HungaryUniversity of Pécs, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Pécs, HungaryUniversity of Pécs, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Pécs, HungaryUniversity of Pécs, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Pécs, HungaryUniversity of Pécs, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Pécs, HungaryUniversity of Pécs, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Pécs, HungaryUniversity of Pécs, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Pécs, HungaryUniversity of Pécs, Department Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, Pécs, Hungary Introduction Suicide-related Internet use is becoming more common, and many research study its potential risks and benefits. Objectives Data on suicidal thoughts and Internet use of patients with depressive disorders were collected to assess their suicide-related Internet use and its relation to help-seeking preferences. Methods Semi-structured interviews were completed to assess Internet use patterns and suicidal thoughts among patients treated with depressive disorders, and preferred forms of help-seeking were also examined. Results 113 patients completed the interviews, most of them spend more hours a day using the Internet. More than 80% came across suicide-related contents while browsing, a quarter reported specific search for suicidal contents. In case of suicidal thoughts, three-quarters of depressed patients would seek help from a mental health professional, two-thirds from their partners, half from friends, and nearly one-third from parents, other relatives or from GPs. Most patients would prefer offline (personal) help for their psychological problems and suicidal thoughts, online methods were less preferred, with only one-fifth choosing these options. However, a third of them also considered it probable that they would not ask anyone for help. Conclusions Despite of the frequent use of the Internet, online help-seeking is less common in depressive patients. However, in the times of pandemic, online help facilities may provide an opportunity to prevent suicidal behavior for those, who have suicidal thoughts and use the Internet regularly, especially searching for suicide-related contents. In the future, further research is needed to develop more effective online suicide prevention programs and applications. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822021630/type/journal_articlesuicidal thoughtshelp-seeking Internet usesuicide prevention |
| spellingShingle | V. Voros Z. Szabo E. Torma A. Nagy J. Fekete T. Tényi S. Fekete P. Osvath Internet Use Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Help-Seeking – Preliminary Results of a Study with Depressive Patients European Psychiatry suicidal thoughts help-seeking Internet use suicide prevention |
| title | Internet Use Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Help-Seeking – Preliminary Results of a Study with Depressive Patients |
| title_full | Internet Use Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Help-Seeking – Preliminary Results of a Study with Depressive Patients |
| title_fullStr | Internet Use Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Help-Seeking – Preliminary Results of a Study with Depressive Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internet Use Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Help-Seeking – Preliminary Results of a Study with Depressive Patients |
| title_short | Internet Use Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Help-Seeking – Preliminary Results of a Study with Depressive Patients |
| title_sort | internet use related to suicidal thoughts and help seeking preliminary results of a study with depressive patients |
| topic | suicidal thoughts help-seeking Internet use suicide prevention |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822021630/type/journal_article |
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