Cyberbullying and Suicidal Behavior: What is the Connection? About a Case

• Published in: Revista colombiana de psiquiatría 2017-10, Vol.46 (4), p.247-251
• Main Authors: Escobar Echavarría, Juliana, Montoya González, Laura Elisa, Restrepo Bernal, Diana, Mejía Rodríguez, David
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: Adolescent; Bullying; Depression - psychology; Female; Humans; Internet; Mental Health; Risk Factors; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - psychology
• ISSN: 0034-7450
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rcp.2016.08.004

Social networks have increased in recent decades, and with them the bullying, causing difficulties in young people's mental health expressed through depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Up next, we present a case that exemplifies this situation. To describe a case report that exemplifies this new outlook in young people and how it affects their mental health. Case report and non-systematic literature review. One case report, treated at a hospital in Medellin due to two suicide attempts related to social networks is presented. Currently, there are multiple social media resources, the advent of internet and smartphones is not only a strategy for improving social interactions, but it also contributes to impair mental health of some vulnerable young people. This case sensitize us, about the relationship between the growing social networking and cyberbullying as well as suicidal thoughts / attempts; thanks to this case and the available literature, we can't establish causality but we could deduce that the internet utter a increased risk for young people who are exposed and more vulnerable.