Citation

Singaravelu V, Stewart A, Adams J, Simkin S, Hawton K. Crisis 2015; 36(3): 211-219.

Affiliation

1 Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000307

PMID

26088826

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Internet is used by young people at risk of self-harm to communicate, find information, and obtain support. AIMS: We aimed to identify and analyze websites potentially accessed by these young people.

METHOD: Six search terms, relating to self-harm/suicide and depression, were input into four search engines. Websites were analyzed for access, content/purpose, and tone.

RESULTS: In all, 314 websites were included in the analysis. Most could be accessed without restriction. Sites accessed by self-harm/suicide search terms were mostly positive or preventive in tone, whereas sites accessed by the term ways to kill yourself tended to have a negative tone. Information about self-harm methods was common with specific advice on how to self-harm in 15.8% of sites, encouragement of self-harm in 7.0%, and evocative images of self-harm/suicide in 20.7%. Advice on how to get help was given in 56.1% of sites.

CONCLUSION: Websites relating to suicide or self-harm are easily accessed. Many sites are potentially helpful. However, a significant proportion of sites are potentially harmful through normalizing or encouraging self-harm. Enquiry regarding Internet use should be routinely included while assessing young people at risk.

Language: en