Online Social Media & Teen Suicide
Influence of online social media, contributing to the recent increase in teen suicide.
Previous and current research and statistics have shown that the rate of youth suicide, both in Australia and internationally, has increased a significant amount since 2009 and unfortunately only continues to rise (National Institute of Mental Health, 2013). This research project is designed at exploring the ways in which social media is involved and how it is has been able to influence and contribute to the increasing rates of youth suicide within the last two years. The research will be focusing on two major concepts which will analyse what forms of online social media (and social networking) contribute to youth suicide, as well as, identifying if there are mental health issues that youth begin to develop or experience due to online harassment and victimisation. In Australia over the past four years, the average total of deaths by suicide for each year is approximately 2, 300. In addition, youth suicide accounted for 25% of deaths recorded in 2011 ranging between the ages of 14-24 for both males and females (Carr, 2009). As well as this, there is great research which displays not only the increasing rate of youth suicide, but the growth in suicide attempts and ideation. Throughout recent years, the growing awareness of suicide and the internet have become greatly connected and dangerously influential. Many recent studies are now finding that forms of social media and social networking are playing a large contribution within almost every teenager’s personal life. A survey found that individuals at risk of suicide who went online pursuing suicide related purposes, in comparison to online users who did not, reported greater symptoms displaying suicidal thoughts and ideation and were unlikely to seek outside help or support (Harris, McLean & Sheffield, 2009). The subsequent research proposal will describe the aim and methodology of this study, include a brief literature
Previous and current research and statistics have shown that the rate of youth suicide, both in Australia and internationally, has increased a significant amount since 2009 and unfortunately only continues to rise (National Institute of Mental Health, 2013). This research project is designed at exploring the ways in which social media is involved and how it is has been able to influence and contribute to the increasing rates of youth suicide within the last two years. The research will be focusing on two major concepts which will analyse what forms of online social media (and social networking) contribute to youth suicide, as well as, identifying if there are mental health issues that youth begin to develop or experience due to online harassment and victimisation. In Australia over the past four years, the average total of deaths by suicide for each year is approximately 2, 300. In addition, youth suicide accounted for 25% of deaths recorded in 2011 ranging between the ages of 14-24 for both males and females (Carr, 2009). As well as this, there is great research which displays not only the increasing rate of youth suicide, but the growth in suicide attempts and ideation. Throughout recent years, the growing awareness of suicide and the internet have become greatly connected and dangerously influential. Many recent studies are now finding that forms of social media and social networking are playing a large contribution within almost every teenager’s personal life. A survey found that individuals at risk of suicide who went online pursuing suicide related purposes, in comparison to online users who did not, reported greater symptoms displaying suicidal thoughts and ideation and were unlikely to seek outside help or support (Harris, McLean & Sheffield, 2009). The subsequent research proposal will describe the aim and methodology of this study, include a brief literature