Suicides of youth and internet: the good, the bad and the ugly

The review analyses the influence of the Internet on the risks of suicidal behavior (SB). The Internet has both positive and negative influence on people who are susceptible to suicidal behavior, SB. At the same time, if the Internet is used properly, it can also be a key resource for helping potentially suicidal individuals people at risk of suicide do not seek help before an attempt, and do not remain connected to health services following an attempt). E-health interventions are now being considered as a means to identify at-risk individuals, offer self-help through web interventions or to deliver proactive interventions in response to individuals’ posts on social media. Research studies focus on three aspects of SB and the internet: the use of online screening, the effectiveness of e-health interventions aimed to manage suicidal thoughts, and studies which aim to proactively intervene when individuals at risk of SB are identified by their social media postings. There is a need for additional robust controlled studies to establish whether suicide screening can effectively reduce SB risk, and in what settings and/or target groups online screening might be most effective. The evidence for the use of intervention practices using social media is possible, although validity, feasibility and implementation remains highly uncertain. It is unreasonable to underestimate and overestimate the risk of the Internet for vulnerable individuals, but its "harmfulness" is questionable a priori: the tool is not bad or good, unlike actions. The Internet is a component of the social environment, but does not dominate the risk factors of the joint venture. The role of the Internet in youth as the most active users of the network is twofold: provoking and useful.