Citation

Harris K. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 97.

Affiliation

University of Queensland, 6/52 Bishop St., St Lucia, 4067 QLD Brisbane, Australia. kharris@psy.uq.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964031

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the question: Are suicidal people oriented towards 'self-help' or 'self-harm' in their online activities? Internet help-seeking behaviors offer an opportunity to investigate how suicidal individuals attempt to solve their problems and what resources they are oriented toward. Method: An online help-seeking, for a personal health problem, task was undertaken by 64 participants (75% female, ages 18-53). Following the internet search, and completion of a help-resource form, participants responded to an online survey assessing: problem-solving, depression, social support, help-seeking (for suicide) and, internet skills. Results: Although participants preferred traditional support sources such as: partners, mental health professionals and friends; online sources, such as: help sites and forums, were significant avenues for suicide related help-seeking. Internet skills, native language and social support were factors associated with choice of help source. Conclusions: How, why, and to what ends, suicidal persons make use of online resources is of importance for understanding their help-seeking patterns, as well as for professionals designing crisis and support sites. These findings may help in the proactive construction of such web sites as well as providing further insight into the suicidal process. Current, and future, phases of this project will provide further information regarding internet activities of suicidal individuals and their online goals.

Language: en