– In Geneva, One in seven young people have suicidal thoughts
Based on the testimonies of 492 adolescents aged 14 to 17, the study highlights that 14.4% of young people in Geneva present suicidal thoughts.
Published today at 4:14 p.m.
Social media addiction is recognized as a significant risk factor for psychological distress.
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One in seven young people have suicidal thoughts in Geneva. A high rate but comparable to that measured before the pandemic. This is the result of research published in the journal “Swiss Medical Weekly“.
The study starts from the hypothesis that the life changes generated by the Covid-19 pandemic could have amplified the suicidal behavior of young people. A path fueled by ever-increasing requests for psychological consultations.
In order to verify the possible impact of the pandemic on suicidal ideas among young people, researchers based themselves on the testimonies of 492 people aged 14 to 17 (including 52% girls). Result: of the 492 adolescents (average age of 15.4 years) questioned, 14.4% reported having had suicidal thoughts in the previous twelve months.
“We carried out a very comprehensive multivariate analysis which revealed several factors associated with suicidal ideation, in particular high psychological distress (expressed by 25% of young people), low self-esteem, identification with the community lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB), and time spent on screens,” says Roxane Dumont, doctoral student in epidemiology at the HUG Primary Care Medicine Department.
This result recalls the disparities between heterosexual and LGBTQI+ communities in terms of distress and suicidal behavior, even at an early age. These young people, like adults, are more confronted with stressors such as discrimination, social rejection, weak family support and harassment.
Comparison, isolation and trolling
Social media addiction is also recognized as a significant risk factor for psychological distress. The Dr Rémy Barbe, assistant doctor in charge of the Inpatient Unit of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, emphasizes that excessive use of social media can reinforce poor self-esteem, narcissistic behavior and loneliness .
“This is often triggered by comparison with others, isolation, decreased face-to-face interactions with peers and exacerbation of the feeling of ‘fear of missing out’ which refers to the perception that others experience a better life or have better experiences.”
Heavy use of social media can also lead to greater exposure to cyberbullying, “trolling” (disruption and denigration in the community), among other abusive behaviors.
The HUG study also demonstrates the importance of feeling surrounded by loved ones, of having a positive relationship with one’s parents and of not encountering difficulties at school. Factors that increase self-esteem.
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