A expressão do comportamento suicida em redes sociais online

Abstract

In Brazil, suicide has been configured as a serious public health problem with social repercussions with a significant increase in incidence over the years. Understanding the forms of expression of suicidal behavior is a key process in the search for strategies capable of preventing it. In this context, two qualitative and descriptive studies were carried out regarding suicidal behavior in social networks. In Study 1, the objective was to evaluate a page on a social network, whose posts are thematic in relation to the expression of suicidal behavior, through images, videos and texts. Through Virtual Ethnography and thematic content analysis, the posts were systematized and categorized in order to better understand and explore how suicidal behavior has been shared in the digital environment on social networks. In Study 2, we sought to know which measures are currently (2022) used by relevant social media in Brazil, for suicide prevention and support/support to the person in crisis. The results of Study 1 pointed to five categories that evidence the expression of suicide in social networks and their respective characteristics, namely: 1) Suicidal behavior (expression of the desire to die); 2) Mental disorder/psychic distress (association between suicidal behavior and depression); 3) Social Relationships (bonds and affective relationships with family members and friends); 4) Spirituality (religious institutions, beliefs and transcendence); and 5) Search for meaning in life (attempt to find reason to stay alive). It is noted that the expression of suicidal behavior is expressed by multimedia from written and expressive languages, such as videos, music, images with high creative potential produced artistically in digital form. In Study 2, we highlight actions offered by social media with the aim of preventing suicide through guidance to users regarding the search for help in support services, suggestion of other forms of self-care, well- 10 being and leisure; banning posts that promote suicide (Werther Effect) and reinforcing posts about overcoming suicide by other users (Papageno Effect). In analyzing the set of actions offered by social media to users regarding the prevention and management of suicidal behavior, there is little emphasis on the indication and referral to specialized and specific treatments offered by professionals in the mental health area. In general, the recommendations were made in a general way (“search for help”, “talk to someone”), or referred to traditional telephone support services specialized in emotional support in the Third Sector, namely the Life Appreciation Center (CVV, from Portuguese). Despite efforts to contribute to the prevention of suicide in Brazil, the actions offered by social media today for these purposes are limited, since they focus their efforts on perpetuating the preexisting logics in society and in the offline world, for example, the CVV indication, provided with the minimum contribution and subsidy of effective public policies, with rare indications to specialized mental health services and/or other initiatives of private social organizations. Despite these limitations, it is observed that there is concern and effort for social media, and considering that these media are configured as a means of communication and information of large scale and reach, there is great potential for the development of more effective actions to approach and offer guidance support for users who seek these spaces as a form of expression of suicidal behavior and consequently psychological suffering arising from these circumstances.