title: Suicide on facebook.
abstract: Current suicide assessment relies primarily on the patient's oral history. This article describes the case of a patient who was hospitalized after making an impulsive suicide attempt. Subsequently, social media was used to identify the events leading up to the attempt and to reconstruct a timeline. This evidence helped the patient gain more insight into the severity of his condition and agree to participate in treatment. Facebook and other social media may prove to be helpful adjuncts to suicide prevention efforts both in treatment and in screening for high-risk individuals who may not voluntarily come to clinical attention.
authors.affiliation: AHUJA, BIESAGA, and SUDAK: Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; DRAPER and WOMBLE: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
authors.forename: Amir Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.forename: Krystine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biesaga
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sudak
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Draper
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Womble
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*