South Korea makes efforts to lower its high suicide rate through apps that monitor social media use

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While browsing the internet in South Korea, it is not uncommon to find forums or posts about suicide.  In some cases, an odd phenomenon is occurring where individuals struggling with depression are finding each other online and making "suicide pacts".  This specific type of suicide pact where strangers meet online and commit suicide at an agreed upon time is known as internet suicide.

It is important to note that an increased use of social media has been linked to symptoms of depression such as loneliness or lowered self-esteem.  In other words, the internet and social media seem to have a significant effect on South Korea's high suicide rate.

As the South Korean government has begun to strategize preventative measures, they are taking a close look at how the internet and social media are affecting the nation's suicide rate.

Study suggests that students' use of social networking sites increases their chances of suffering from depression 

Information source: http://www.slideshare.net

Data collected by the Korean Information Society Development Institute estimates that there are
approximately 7 million Koreans using SNS.  Furthermore, 61% of Korea's younger generation seems to be using or has used social networking sites.  This number has only increased over time.

Among Korea's most popular social networking sites are

• KakaoStory
• Facebook
• CyWorld
• Twitter

Studies have shown, however, that an increased amount of time spent on SNS can lead to addiction, depression, and loneliness.

A study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology tested 180 college students to determine the relationship between Facebook use and depressive symptoms.  The results suggested that time spent on social networking sites, such as Facebook, is positively related to depressive symptoms including lowered self esteem.  Moreover, this lowered self esteem may be a result of an increased amount of social comparison as users spend more time on SNS.  Social comparison is essentially what occurs when someone compares their everyday life with the 'highlight' reel that is portrayed on someone else's social media.

This correlation between depressive symptoms and SNS activity seems to hold true in Korea as well; at the Kim Hyun Chul Mental Health Medical Clinic in Daegu, approximately half of its patients in their teens and 20s suffer from depression and other SNS related symptoms.

Not only does social media increase chances of depression, but the internet has also facilitated a way for Korean citizens to partake in, what are known as, suicide pacts.  Although the Korean government does not record how many of the nation's suicides are results of or aided by the internet, a sociologist at Korea Nazarene University, Kim Jung Jin, found that out of 191 suicide cases he analyzed, almost a third involved a suicide pact.

Negative effects of social media may be particularly dangerous to South Korea's highly competitive environment

Over the past generation, South Korea's suicide rate has nearly quintupled.  Despite being a beacon of advancement and modernization in the east, South Korea has struggled with its uniquely high rate of suicide.

With a rate of 29.1 per 100,000 people, the small developed country has the second highest suicide rate in the world (first amongst developed nations).  Among Korea's citizens, students and young people have proven to be particularly high risk victims.

Korea's high rate of depression and suicide is a result of a multitude of factors.  Both social stigmas and cultural norms contribute to the high stress environment that ultimately leads to suicide.  These aspects of Korean culture can trace its roots back to Korea's Confucianist background as well as to its rapid pace of modernization.

In Korea, there is an unspoken pressure to preserve one's dignity and stoicism is a highly valued trait.  Essentially, this pressure to uphold one's image translates into a social stigma against openly discussing one's emotional problems.  Korean culture and language TA at the University of Maryland, Kelly Kim, says that one of the reasons depression is so high in Korea is due to the fact that emotions are often suppressed.

As a result of regarding emotions as a very private matter, it seems that there is a social stigma against seeing a therapist as well as a lack of general knowledge pertaining to depression and mental health.  Kelly Kim notes that seeing a therapist can also jeopardize one's career path.  

Additionally, one of the biggest sources of pressure for young students is the extremely competitive education system.  

When asked to reflect upon his education experience, current Yonsei University student, Seung geon Lee, said that "in Korea, from elementary school to middle school to high school, all your efforts of studying are so you can get into college.  In Korea, it is believed that what college you go to determines your life's success.  Even more, you are constantly compared to your peers [...] class rankings go from first to last and are posted for everyone to see."

Thus, students are put under an extreme amount of pressure and are instilled with the values of harsh competition and comparison.

Lastly, a large value is placed in a person's physical appearance and the same can be said about socioeconomic status.  As Kim had mentioned, success is measured in achievement and achievement is often measured by material goods.  Essentially, this focus on outwardly characteristics and material belongings makes social media particularly dangerous in regards to social comparison.

All of these factors in conjunction essentially creates an environment in which the negative effects of social media may be particularly dangerous and possibly life-threatening.

Social media and internet use habits may be helpful in forecasting suicide 

The Public Library of Science published a study that suggests that monitoring social media activity

Source: http://rhondahurwitz.com

and collecting data may be helpful in detecting depression and even preventing suicide.  By comparing social media posts and completed suicides in Korea from 2008 to 2010, the study found that those with depression were found to be more likely to post or search suicide related blogs.

These results seemed to coincide with those of a study done by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).  By observing the web behavior of 55 Korean college students, it was found that the more depressed an individual is, the more they will read tips and facts about depression on Facebook.  Ultimately, the study suggested that Facebook activity can be used to identify depressed individuals.

Using this knowledge, the Korean government seems to be making efforts to lowers its high suicide rate by observing social media habits.

Korean Education Ministry works on promoting app to prevent student suicide by monitoring social media use

South Korea's government has recently sponsored the development of suicide preventing apps.  The main function of these downloadable apps will be to monitor students' messages, internet searches, and social media posts.  If any warning signs, specifically words related to depression or suicide, are detected then the app notifies the child's guardian.  Hopefully, then parents will be able to consult medical professionals and figure out a method of treatment for their children.

Seeing as previous studies have suggested that social media data can be useful in forecasting suicide before it happens, it is understandable why the Korean government developed this kind of app.  Critics like Kelly Kim argue, however, that until the stigmatization of depression is reduced, this app will not be very effective.

Perhaps instead of an app that latently monitors social media and internet use, South Korea could benefit from making an app that incorporates more proactive and educational features.  My3, an American developed app, focuses more on user interactivity and promoting mental health awareness.

My3's main features include:

Source: http://www.my3app.org/

• creating a support system of 3 contacts the user feels safe talking to
• building a personal safety plan by identifying personal warning signs and coping strategies
• providing important resources (ex: information on nearby support groups, videos/infographics on mental health, etc.)
• providing easy access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Since seeking a therapist or psychoanalyst is so stigmatized in Korea, these features may be particularly appealing to Koreans because it gives users more control of accessing resources on their own.

Although developing an app may be a step in the right direction, it seems South Korea should shift its current focus of the app's function.  In order to more effectively tackle the issue of teen suicide, the government should work towards the goal of promoting mental health awareness and opening up the conversation on depression.

Since many Koreans seem to be using technology to discuss their depression and thoughts of suicide, it would make sense to develop technology that provides reliable information and resources.

Although it is an unfortunate phenomenon that Korea's unusually high suicide rate is negatively impacted by technology, the country has the potential to bring something positive out of it.  If successful, using technology to combat the issue of teen suicide and depression could inspire movements in mental health awareness around the world.