Social media as a hope: Suicide prevention by influencers!

Social media as a hope: Suicide prevention by influencers!

A new scientific approach illuminates the role of social media in suicide prevention, and the results are promising. According to Florian Arendt from the University of Vienna, the positive representation of hope and crisis management on platforms such as Instagram can actually counteract suicidal thoughts in vulnerable persons. This represents a positive contrast to the well-known "Werther effect", in which media reporting about suicide can favor imitating acts. In a study, Instagram contributions from the survivor and influencers Kevin Hines, who himself survived a suicide attempt, were examined as to Kleinezeitung.at is reported.

results of the study

Participants of the study, including 354 test subjects, were divided into two groups. A group saw Hines ’inspiring posts, while the control group received other, thematically non -related content. The evaluation showed that those who had previously increased suicidal thoughts led to a reduction in these thoughts. In addition, their willingness to take advantage of help. This underlines the assumption that influencers can play an important role in suicide prevention on social media, as well as kjug-zeitschrift.de formulated.

Arendt emphasizes that the results are particularly important because suicide is one of the most common causes of death in young people. The findings could encourage further influencers to share their own stories about coping with crises, which favors the determined influence of a positive message on the Internet. In order to promote the spread of such positive “papageno-narratives”, social media should be actively integrated into the national suicide prevention strategy. In view of the reach of social platforms, this is an essential step, not only for young people, but for society as a whole.