Internet Search Activity for Intentional Self-Harm Forums After a High-Profile News Publication: Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Nora Clancy Kelsall; Catherine Gimbrone; Mark Olfson; Madelyn Gould; Jeffrey Shaman; Katherine Keyes

doi:10.2196/52354

Internet Search Activity for Intentional Self-Harm Forums After a High-Profile News Publication: Interrupted Time Series Analysis

J Med Internet Res. 2024 Oct 15:26:e52354. doi: 10.2196/52354.

Authors

Nora Clancy Kelsall¹, Catherine Gimbrone¹, Mark Olfson², Madelyn Gould^{1

2}, Jeffrey Shaman^{3

4}, Katherine Keyes¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
² Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
³ Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
⁴ Columbia Climate School, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.

PMID: 39405095
PMCID: PMC11522645
DOI: 10.2196/52354

Abstract

Searches for "pro-suicide" websites in the United States peaked during the week a high-profile news story was published and remained elevated for 6 months afterward, highlighting the need to avoid mentioning specific sources of explicit suicide instructions in media publications.

Keywords: Google Trends; depression; harmful information; journalism; media; mental health; quality of life; self-harm; suicide; suicide risk; websites.

©Nora Clancy Kelsall, Catherine Gimbrone, Mark Olfson, Madelyn Gould, Jeffrey Shaman, Katherine Keyes. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 15.10.2024.

MeSH terms

Humans
Internet*
Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Mass Media / statistics & numerical data
Self-Injurious Behavior* / psychology
Suicide / psychology
Suicide / statistics & numerical data
United States

Grants and funding

R01 MH121410/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States