When despair takes over: Suicide conversations in an online counseling chat service for youth

Abstract

We examined how suicide is discussed online in chat counseling services for youth. The data included 4,340 chat conversations between young service users and adult counselors. Conversations using the word suicide (n = 558; 12.9%) were filtered, and conversations by 31 boys and 31 girls aged 15–29 years were selected for in-depth analyses; of these conversations 24 depicted previous suicide attempts and 15 suicide plans. Common reasons discussed were prolonged mental health challenges and fragmented relationships. Our results showed that young people seek help for suicidal behavior online; thus, professionalism and careful ethical consideration are needed when providing chat services.