2015-10-19 teens, technology, and suicide: understanding causes, effects, and "bullycide"

Teens, Technology, and Teens, Technology, and SuicideSuicide

Joanne L. Harpel, Mphil, JDJoanne L. Harpel, Mphil, JD

Understanding Causes, Effects, and Understanding Causes, Effects, and “Bullycide”“Bullycide”

Frederick S. Lane, JDFrederick S. Lane, JD

The Four MillennialsThe Four Millennials

Burlington School BoardBurlington School Board

CybertrapsCybertraps

The Mobile Revolution - 1The Mobile Revolution - 1

The Mobile Revolution - 2The Mobile Revolution - 2

Exploiting the Teen MarketExploiting the Teen Market

• 2001 – An Estimated 20% of Teens Use a 2001 – An Estimated 20% of Teens Use a CellphoneCellphone• Cellphone Companies Begin Targeting Cellphone Companies Begin Targeting

Marketing at TeensMarketing at Teens• 2006 – Teen Cellphone Use Doubles to 40%2006 – Teen Cellphone Use Doubles to 40%• 2009 – 83%2009 – 83%• 2014 – 88%2014 – 88%• Average Age of 1Average Age of 1stst Cellphone Use: <10 Cellphone Use: <10

How Teens Use Mobile DevicesHow Teens Use Mobile Devices

• Texting (88%)Texting (88%)• Instant Messaging (79%)Instant Messaging (79%)• Social Media (72%)Social Media (72%)• Email (64%)Email (64%)• Video Chat (59%)Video Chat (59%)• Video Games (52%)Video Games (52%)•Messaging Apps (42%)Messaging Apps (42%)

Communication CybertrapsCommunication Cybertraps

• CyberbullyingCyberbullying• CyberharassmentCyberharassment• CyberstalkingCyberstalking• SextingSexting• SextortionSextortion

Victims and VectorsVictims and Vectors

• Approximately 7 out of 10 Teens Report Being Approximately 7 out of 10 Teens Report Being CyberbulliedCyberbullied• Just Under 25% Admit to Sending Sexts (Among Just Under 25% Admit to Sending Sexts (Among

Millennials, the Rate Is Almost 50%)Millennials, the Rate Is Almost 50%)• Most Common Methods of Cyberabuse:Most Common Methods of Cyberabuse:• Texting/Instant MessagingTexting/Instant Messaging• FacebookFacebook• TwitterTwitter• InstagramInstagram• Ask.fmAsk.fm• Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Kik, Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Kik, etc.etc.

Contributing FactorsContributing Factors

• Perception of AnonymityPerception of Anonymity• Lack of Facial ReactionLack of Facial Reaction• Undeveloped/Stunted EmpathyUndeveloped/Stunted Empathy• Low Barrier to ActionLow Barrier to Action• Capabilities Exceed Wisdom/JudgementCapabilities Exceed Wisdom/Judgement• Insufficient SupervisionInsufficient Supervision

Cyberbullying and SuicideCyberbullying and Suicide

• Relationship Between Peer Victimization, Relationship Between Peer Victimization, Cyberbullying, and Suicide in Children and Cyberbullying, and Suicide in Children and Adolescents: A Metanalysis – Adolescents: A Metanalysis – JAMA JAMA PediatricsPediatrics, 2014, 2014• Review of 491 Studies of Bullying and AbuseReview of 491 Studies of Bullying and Abuse• Among the Conclusions:Among the Conclusions:• “Cyberbullying was more strongly related to

suicidal ideation compared with traditional bullying.”

The Cloud (For Most)The Cloud (For Most)

The Cloud (For Some)The Cloud (For Some)

StephenStephen

Suicide Is ComplicatedSuicide Is Complicated

• 90%90%• Disorders in Teens Associated with Suicide RiskDisorders in Teens Associated with Suicide Risk

• Major Depressive DisorderMajor Depressive Disorder• Conduct DisorderConduct Disorder• Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder • Generalized Anxiety DisorderGeneralized Anxiety Disorder• Substance Abuse DisorderSubstance Abuse Disorder• Eating DisorderEating Disorder

But Not InexplicableBut Not Inexplicable

Major Depressive DisorderMajor Depressive Disorder

Conduct DisorderConduct Disorder

• VictimsVictims• BulliesBullies• BothBoth

CyberbullyingCyberbullying

““Bullycide”?Bullycide”?

•MediaMedia• www.reportingonsuicide.orgwww.reportingonsuicide.org

• OversimplifiesOversimplifies• NormalizesNormalizes• ContagionContagion

Why??Why??

What Can Schools Do?What Can Schools Do?

• Promote Protective FactorsPromote Protective Factors• Sources of Strength (www.sourcesofstrength.org)Sources of Strength (www.sourcesofstrength.org)

• EducationEducation• More than Sad (www.morethansad.org)More than Sad (www.morethansad.org)

• ScreeningScreening• Screening for Mental Health Screening for Mental Health

(www.mentalhealthscreening.org)(www.mentalhealthscreening.org)• Best Practices RegistryBest Practices Registry• www.nrepp.samhsa.gov)www.nrepp.samhsa.gov)

HANDOUT: Key Resources and References HANDOUT: Key Resources and References for Schoolsfor Schools

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for SchoolsAfter a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for SchoolsAfter a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools

• www.afsp.org/schoolswww.afsp.org/schools• www.sprc.org/webform/after-suicide-toolkit-www.sprc.org/webform/after-suicide-toolkit-

schools schools

KEY MESSAGE #1KEY MESSAGE #1

• Schools Should Strive to Treat All Deaths the Schools Should Strive to Treat All Deaths the Same WaySame Way


• Adolescents and Teens Are Vulnerable to the Adolescents and Teens Are Vulnerable to the Risk of ContagionRisk of Contagion


• Emphasize the Connection Between Suicide Emphasize the Connection Between Suicide and Underlying Serious Mental Health Issuesand Underlying Serious Mental Health Issues


• Help Is Available for Anyone Who May Be Help Is Available for Anyone Who May Be Struggling or May Be at Risk ThemselvesStruggling or May Be at Risk Themselves• 800-273-TALK800-273-TALK• Crisis Text Line: 741741Crisis Text Line: 741741

GET THE FACTS FIRSTGET THE FACTS FIRST

• ConfirmationConfirmation•Wishes of the FamilyWishes of the Family

HELPING STUDENTS COPEHELPING STUDENTS COPE

• Emotional RegulationEmotional Regulation•MemorializationMemorialization

MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIAMEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA

•Media CoverageMedia Coverage• Social MediaSocial Media• School Web SiteSchool Web Site

CONTACT INFORMATIONCONTACT INFORMATION

• Joanne L. Harpel, MPhil, JDJoanne L. Harpel, MPhil, JD• President, Coping After Suicide, LLCPresident, Coping After Suicide, LLC• President and CEO, Rethink the ConversationPresident and CEO, Rethink the Conversation• [email protected]@icloud.com• 917.584.1200917.584.1200• www.linkedin.com/in/joannelelewerharpelwww.linkedin.com/in/joannelelewerharpel

• Frederick S. Lane, JDFrederick S. Lane, JD• Author, Attorney, Lecturer, Expert WitnessAuthor, Attorney, Lecturer, Expert Witness• Editor, “The Cybertraps Blog”Editor, “The Cybertraps Blog”• FrederickLane.comFrederickLane.com• 802-318-4604802-318-4604• [email protected]@gmail.com