Moon KC, Van Meter AR, Kirschenbaum MA, Ali A, Kane JM, Birnbaum ML (2021). Internet search activity of young people with mood disorders who are hospitalized for suicidal thoughts and behaviors: Qualitative study of Google search activity. JMIR Ment Health. doi: 10.2196/28262
This study evaluated the Google search activity among young people with suicidality to look for references to suicidal thoughts and behavioral health-related content. The study included 43 participants ages 15-30 years old who had a primary mood disorder diagnosis and been hospitalized for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Researchers obtained the participants’ Google search activity from three months prior to their hospitalization. Then, the study team conducted a qualitative analysis by manually reviewing the search terms and extracting terms related to suicidal ideation and behavioral health. Extracted search terms were coded into five thematic categories: (1) suicidal thoughts and behaviors, (2) help-seeking, (3) symptoms of mental disorders, (4) trauma and negative life events, and (5) drugs of abuse. Results indicated a majority of participants (63%) searched queries related to suicide. In 21% of cases, the planned method of suicide was in their internet search history. Most participants (77%) used help-seeking terms in their searches, such as how to get inpatient or outpatient healthcare. Almost half (44%) of searched terms related to mood and anxiety symptoms or substance use. Searches related to trauma and negative life events were identified for 33% of participants. Only 3 participants searched for crisis hotlines. Results suggest that internet search activity data could be a source of information on the presence of suicidal ideation and could be used to identify patients who are hesitant to self-report suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Future research is needed to develop more robust statistical approaches and tools that can process larger data and return clinically relevant results.