Social networks and suicidal behavior in childhood and adolescence during the COVID-19 pandemic: a difficult-to-estimate relationship
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Copyright (c) 2023 Revista de Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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https://doi.org/10.31766/revpsij.v40n3a2Keywords:
suicide, adolescent, child and adolescent psychiatry, covid-19, social media, social networkAbstract
Introduction: After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of child and adolescent suicide in Spain has increased. The use of Social Media (SM) has also increased, which could have also contributed to the increase in suicidal behavior. Methods: Narrative review of studies published on Pubmed on suicidal behavior and the use of Social Media among minors. Results: The reviewed studies on the association between suicide and SM are contradictory. On the one hand, thanks to Social Media, during the pandemic, minors were able to maintain their social communities and alleviate loneliness. On the other, the inherent risks (increased anxiety and depression symptoms, addiction and cyberbullying) might also have increased, with a possible secondary association with suicidal behavior. Lack of regulation regarding the dissemination of information on suicide can lead to its spread (Werther effect), yet a good use of Social Media might prevent suicidal behavior (Papageno effect). Discussion: The association between child and adolescent suicide and Social Media is complex and bidirectional. Although there is evidence that supports that SM is an emerging risk factor for mental health, the use of SM during the pandemic might have helped to reduce the feeling of loneliness caused by confinement. The involvement of minors with SM must be studied as an additional dimension of their lives. Conclusion: The increase in child and adolescent suicide after the pandemic makes it necessary to reflect on their accessibility to the digital world in order to ensure their safety. It is essential to promote rigorous research about the possible association between SM and child and adolescent suicide.
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