Cybersuicide and the adolescent population: challenges of the future?
Cybersuicide is a term used in reference to suicide and its ideations on the Internet. Cybersuicide is associated with websites that lure vulnerable members of society and empower them with various methods and approaches to deliberate self-harm. Ease of accessibility to the Internet and the rate at which information is dispersed contribute to the promotion of 'offing' one's self which is particularly appealing to adolescents. This study aims to explore this phenomenon, which seems to be spreading across generations, cultures, and races. Information and articles regarding Internet suicide and other terminology, as well as sub-classifications concerning this new form of suicide, were reviewed. Through search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia, we investigated the differentiations between 'web cam' suicide, 'net suicide packs', sites that merely offer advice on how to commit suicide and sites that are essential in providing the means of performing the act. Additionally, materials published in scientific journals and data published by the Public Health Services, Centers for Disease Control, and materials from private media agencies were reviewed. Resources were also sourced from The Faculty of Medical Sciences Library, UWI at Mt. Hope. Cybersuicide is a worldwide problem among adolescents and a challenge of the future.
Birbal
Ria
R
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, The University of the West Indies, Mt. Hope, Trinidad, West Indies.
Maharajh
Hari D
HD
Birbal
Risa
R
Clapperton
Maria
M
Jarvis
Johnathan
J
Ragoonath
Anushka
A
Uppalapati
Kali
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*