SUICIDAL IDEATION/MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN/SELF-HARM EMOJIS Suicidal ideation refers to thoughts, fantasies, or planning surrounding ending one's own life. It can range from brief, fleeting thoughts, to detailed plans and can be accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, despair, loneliness, and worthlessness. Suicidal ideation is often a symptom of a mental health concern, but it can also occur in response to stressful life events or trauma. It is important to take any thoughts of suicide seriously and to seek out professional help if you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation. When referring to the unsettling trends of suicide among young people, we need to find an appropriate response to the behavior. This is especially important for cases where youth are encouraging and supporting other peers in their expression of suicidal ideation. Sometimes, this may even include offering an improved plan for completion. There is a concerning increase in these behaviors with the escalating presence of anonymous apps and social networking platforms such as Discord, Reddit, 4Chan, and WhatsApp. More adolescents are accessing emergency rooms with self-inflicted wounds or suicide attempts than ever before. or the act of physically hurting themselves by other means to focus on another form of pain, and is defined as intentional self 2 Self-harming 3 can include cutting -injuries. 4 Both suicidal ideation and self-harming behavior rates have increased amongst children, adolescents, and young-adults since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 5 It is now clear how our health systems are impacted by rising cases concerning mental health, where researchers note a distressing rise in the number of youths seeking help for self-inflicted wounds, particularly in those who identify as female. However, many doctors and specialists report the increasing number of youths seeking support for self 6 -harm within emergency rooms do not have the hallmarks of a psychiatric disorder, leaving doctors without concrete answers as to why there is an increase of adolescents with these types of injuries. 7 Another increasingly concerning online trend is posting self-harming behaviors online, including still images and videos of the action of self-harm. 8 As this behavior continues, we can predict the number of adolescents engaged in these behaviors will continue to rise. We have also seen the resurgence of specific forms of language regarding self-harming behaviors, that are commonly used on social media platforms, often to avoid content moderation. 9 Self-harming behaviors and suicide attempts are very different behaviors and must be responded to accordingly. There is a strong association between digital self-harm and suicidality. 10 As such, it is imperative health professionals screen for digital self-harm to address underlying mental health problems among youth that may occur prior to or alongside suicidality. Moreover, parents and caregivers must convey to children that they are available to talk, support, and assist with the root issues that may eventually manifest as digital self-harm. Educators and other stakeholders must improve in prioritizing the emotional and psychological needs of youth; this can be through opportunities for open dialog, skill-building, and the provision of interactive and easily accessible online and offline support resources to ensure that those at-risk have a multidisciplinary support system and know other people care about them and their well-being. 10
1 Suicide rates extremely high for children, adolescents and young adults 2 Children and adolescents with suicidal ideation and the emergency department 3 Self-Harm | Cleveland Clinic 4 Non-suicidal self-injury 5 Post-COVID 19 impacts on Suicidal Ideation and Self Harm 6 Sex differences in non-suicidal self-injury 7 Canadian hospitals stretched as self-harming teens seek help | CBC News
8 Social networking on self-harm and suicidality in adolescents 9 Secret Society 123: Understanding the Language of Self-Harm 10 Digital Self Harm and Suicidality among adolescents
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