Suicide websites on the Internet have often been reported as suicide-
facilitating stimuli and Biddle et al. (1) described the great potential
harm of these pro-suicide internet sites. Yet as Dr. Grohol stated above,
a less biased search strategy may have revealed a a more balanced picture
of the effects of internet use on suicidal ideation.
A preliminary analysis of the 2002-2003 U.S. National Latino and
Asian American Study (n=2,095) noted that of the 9.11% reporting suicide
ideation, 18% of them had used internet-based mental health support groups
in the past year versus 11% of those without suicide ideation. Even after
controlling for socio-demographic covariates, the data indicate that those
with suicidal ideation were more likely to make use of online mental
health resources than those without suicidal ideation (p<0.05). These
data are only suggestive, and there is no information about the use of
potentially harmful websites among suicidal individuals for comparison.
Hence, we suggest further studies to be conducted by Biddle and her
colleagues comparing the actual traffic to both pro-suicide and suicide
prevention websites and focusing future studies on the actual online
behaviors of suicidal individuals.
1. Biddle L, Donovan J, Hawton K, Kapur N, Gunnell D. Suicide and the
Internet. BMJ 2008;336(7648):800-2.
Rapid Response:
Use of Internet Prevention sites on suicide
Suicide websites on the Internet have often been reported as suicide-
facilitating stimuli and Biddle et al. (1) described the great potential
harm of these pro-suicide internet sites. Yet as Dr. Grohol stated above,
a less biased search strategy may have revealed a a more balanced picture
of the effects of internet use on suicidal ideation.
A preliminary analysis of the 2002-2003 U.S. National Latino and
Asian American Study (n=2,095) noted that of the 9.11% reporting suicide
ideation, 18% of them had used internet-based mental health support groups
in the past year versus 11% of those without suicide ideation. Even after
controlling for socio-demographic covariates, the data indicate that those
with suicidal ideation were more likely to make use of online mental
health resources than those without suicidal ideation (p<0.05). These
data are only suggestive, and there is no information about the use of
potentially harmful websites among suicidal individuals for comparison.
Hence, we suggest further studies to be conducted by Biddle and her
colleagues comparing the actual traffic to both pro-suicide and suicide
prevention websites and focusing future studies on the actual online
behaviors of suicidal individuals.
1. Biddle L, Donovan J, Hawton K, Kapur N, Gunnell D. Suicide and the
Internet. BMJ 2008;336(7648):800-2.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests