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Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D. is Senior Editor of the Journal of Media Psychology and Emeritus Professor of Media Psychology at Cal State, Los Angeles. See full bio

June 1, 2008, Media

Comments on "The Internet and Suicide"

The Internet and Suicide

By Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D. on June 1, 2008 in The Media Zone

If the Internet can be used to promote suicide can it also be used to prevent it? Read More

The internet has the ability to save lives.

Submitted by Morgan on June 1, 2008 - 10:46pm.

I am a teen with severe depression who attributes the fact that I am typing here right now to the internet.

I struggled with depression for many years and do to this day. It started in the 5th grade and spanned till now at 16. I contemplated suicide for years and was too afraid to reach out. I had belonged to internet forums for years and after discovering new friends on them I finally found the courage to reach out to them. The anonymity provided by this, that I didn't have to talk to them directly or even hear their voices, helped me to reach out. With their help I sought help for myself and now do a lot better.While I was struggling they were always there for me. They helped me through many a night where I didn't believe I would make it. I truly believe that were the internet not there I would not be alive today.The internet is a beautiful network that allows many to reach out without fear.

The internet has the ability to save lives

Submitted by Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D. on June 2, 2008 - 5:35am.

Morgan, Thank you for your articulate and candid reply to my request. I'm sure there are many "silent readers" who will read your words with interest and a lot of empathy and head nodding at shared truths. Others may get motivation from your words to try new paths to self-help and mutuality of understanding. Stuart

I have struggled with major

Submitted by Kayla on June 2, 2008 - 5:36am.

I have struggled with major depression since my teen years. I am now 35 and still deal with it. The internet has definetely been a positive at times when I am at my lowest. No one is critical of my thoughts and accepts that this is who I am and I am not condemned for my thoughts.I have and continue to take all the right steps for improvement but this has been with me for 20 years and I don't know if it will ever go away.

I have struggled with major

Submitted by Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D. on June 2, 2008 - 5:43am.

Kayla, Thanks for your reply. Over the years you have been dealing with depression, have different aspects of going on the net helped in different ways? Does writing thoughts give you something different than, say, hearing other people's takes on depression and coping? Stuart

Stuart~ Writing my thoughts

Submitted by Kayla on June 2, 2008 - 5:54am.

Stuart~
Writing my thoughts is accepting that this is real and I am not condemned for what I feel. Just as, when I read someone's story and I can completely relate and feel for what they are going thru, there is no judgement or stigma attached to it. And suprisingly, there is a sense of calm that goes with that. I am in therapy and when I have really low points, I feel it is an issue for sometimes my therapist feels that he is condoning the negative. That is something that can make one feel more alone than they already do and that just deepens the spiral.

writing my thoughts

Submitted by Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D. on June 2, 2008 - 10:04am.

So, your saying that when you write your thoughts to others while on the net it feels free to be you with your depression. Thanks for making that clear. As as aside,it might be a good idea to let your therapist know what you think about his/her worrying that they might be or might be seen as condoning the negative. Your perception might be right or it might be wrong. In either case, the subject is open for discussion with the therapist, and that can't be bad. Stuart

Anonymity is key

Submitted by Becky on June 2, 2008 - 8:15am.

As a therapist, I work with only adolescents and so I have had an opportunity to experience first hand how teens deal with emotional trauma. I think the internet is an invaluable resource for helping teens cope with dark thoughts or deeply personal struggles. I fully understand my responsibility to report homocidal or suicidal ideation but as soon as I give out the disclosure statement ( including reporting incidents of suspected child abuse) I feel some clients clam up. If a teen was or is being abused, they may wish to talk about it without thier abuser being reported and thier personal pain going public. They may wish to talk about wanting to die without being forced into a psychiatric treatment center. The internest is an awsome, anonymous support system and I encourage those who I suspect are holding back for legal reasons to reach out anonymously for help. I feel all mandatory reporters and helping professionals should be aware of anonymous resources for thier clients. I am trying to familiarize myself with some, so if anyone has a site they think is helpful, I'd apprecite knowing about it.

Anonymity is key

Submitted by Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D. on June 2, 2008 - 10:09am.

Thanks for the input, Becky. Anonymity can be very freeing. It's an incredibly important psychological variable, especially since we're social animals and the mere presence of others in our space alters our thoughts, actions, and feelings. On the matter of your patients, the teenagers, have any of them reported that being on the Internet has altered what might be a suicidal thoughts or acts and sought to cope with a problem or condition in a different fashion? Stuart

Writing my thoughts

Submitted by Kayla on June 3, 2008 - 7:17am.

I believe there is such a negative attached with suicide and the internet. Yet, what most don't understand is that these sites are there where everyone can relate to eachother, there is no explanation needed as to the depth of feelings that occur. And in essence, majority of the individuals are here and have not chosen the negative path of finality, even if that is what they feel.

That aside, I have been very open with my therapist about him feeling as if he is "condoning" the negative. It's just something that he does not like to focus on, which I understand; positive over negative, but sometimes there are things that need to be said without the worry of hospitalization. The feeling of wanting to end ones life and acting on it are entirely different.
This is something that I have dealt with for 20 years, on and off, inpatient at 15, two attempts and I still have yet to find my place. At this point, I have come to accept this is part of my life, I don't know if that is right or wrong but, at the moment, it is reality and I take it day by day.

Personal experience, on the postive side

Submitted by Jonathon Young on June 10, 2008 - 12:08am.

I will say that in my younger years (being 16 now, I'm speaking of 13-14) I was in a very socially isolated situation. At that time i personally found the internet to be of great resource in finding other people to talk to. These people, while only known over the internet, often became close friends that I'm still in contact with today.

I cannot say with 100% assuredy that without such communication with people there would've been serious attempts on my life. I can however say that it helped, if nothing else, keep the thoughts under control to some extent by knowing that I'd never have to face these people in person. Which when people know your most secure thoughts is greatly relaxing.

personal experience positive

Submitted by Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D. on June 10, 2008 - 12:23pm.

Jonathon, Greatly relaxing, yes. Relaxing is a good word, I think. Someone recently told that being able toshare thoughts and not have to worry about seeing people later,not worrying about judgment, and seeking to handle stressors or other annoying inputs from outside or inside their heads, handling them at their own pace and using the Internet as a resource, at their own pace, was most helpful. Thanks for your input. I hope things continue to go well for you. Stuart

Ya the parent deserve it

Submitted by LEMON on June 18, 2008 - 5:40pm.

Look at yourself and look at your bady, are you producing another bastard , prostitute, drug addict and criminal in society. Lucky the children commit soiciety and let the parent know they have fail, if not more and more bastard, prostitute, drug addict and criminal is produced in society. Lousy parenting is to blame end of the day.

Dont be childish, what internet to prevent suicide, dont cry also, the mistake is made and the answer lies simply in proper parenting and communciation.
Love, care and communciation between parent and child, they feel enough love before the idea of suicide is possible. (why other people children never commit cuicide is the answer and look at criminal to see the more obvious result too.)

communication

Submitted by vocallise on June 24, 2008 - 3:57pm.

Well Stuart, there are just some people
who never received validation for their pain and
want to leave something for the world to see.
Suicide is final, all chances of overcoming gone.

I say blog away, text, video, do what you have to do
people. Don't stop telling your story ! There are
people out there that need to know that its ok to speak about it now, if you can't speak, type it, write it, but if you desire nice comforting comments on what you put out there on the internet....ummm.. thats a gamble, stakes too high.

high stakes on the Net

Submitted by Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D. on June 26, 2008 - 7:51pm.

As you say, put it out there. A personal diary can serve that function as well, of course, but you don't get the feedback. High stakes, high risks, perhaps. But the chances of something positive, helpful, corrective, coming back to and for you are infinitely greater with Net talking than "my own private diary" talking. Both forums for self-expression, the private and the public, can be valuable because you're externalizing and inspecting what is often only internal and uninspected. Either way, it can only help. The stakes are too high only if you approach self-disclosures with naive or unrealistic expectations. But, quickly one can self-correct and then seek what is realistically reachable via the net platform. There's a learning curve to self-disclosure as there is to anything else that improves with practice. Stuart

I dealt with suicidal

Submitted by A.D on September 10, 2008 - 6:32am.

I dealt with suicidal feelings and depression during 7th-11th grade. It breaks my heart to see people who are internally suffering and cannot seek help (or feel no one will help them). I feel very strongly about the subject and offered to listen to my friends who are suffering from the same problems.
I have also decided I'm going to become a clinical psychologist and help suicidal people.

A big organization that helps people is "To Write Love On Her Arms." They are a non-profit organization that branches into helplines for people who need them. If you are interested: www.twloha.com

The internet was a big help for me, and I hope I can pass their message along