Using google searches on the internet to monitor suicidal behavior

Abstract

Background: Recent research in Japan and Taiwan has found that the volume of Internet searches each month on Google for suicide-related terms is sometimes associated with the monthly suicide rate. The present study sought to examine whether this association between suicide rates and Google searches for suicide are found over regions.

Methods: Suicide rates in the state of America in 2009 were examined for their association with search volume on Google for "commit suicide," "how to suicide" and "suicide prevention."

Results: Suicide rates for the 50 American states were positively associated with the search volume for all three terms.

Conclusions: Internet searches for suicide may provide a faster way of monitoring possible trends in suicide than waiting for central governments to compile suicide statistics.