TEXT ANALYSIS OF SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS Julianne Kimmel,1 BSN student & Jia-Wen Guo,1 PhD, RN 1 University of Utah College of Nursing Introduction Methods Results Conclusions In recent years, it has become This study involved a secondary data analysis of an existing Of the total words taken from the survey, 200 frequently used words The key findings of the study are that frequently evident that the number of patients dataset. AYAs were asked to provide brief descriptions of how that presented at least three times, 115 (57%) were directly describing used words directly related to suicidal thoughts or in the adolescent and young adult they and their peers expressed their experiences of self-harm, suicide-related thoughts or behaviors. Of those words, the top two behaviors and the specific terms (e.g., slangs) used (AYA) age category (11-25 years) suicidal thinking and attempts. most frequently used words were cut (126 uses) and kill (110 uses). by the AYA generation are useful for the early experiencing suicide ideation (SI), A quantitative text analysis was conducted to discover Several teen slang words or social media terms were found (Table 1). detection of suicide ideation and intention from suicide attempts (SA) and self-harm frequently used words and themes that emerged from the With the strong generational ties that most of these words have, it is the social media posts. has grown exponentially and it a suicide-related texts. Word frequency and word co-occurrence highly unlikely that the general public would not view these words as The slang words offer a look into the vernacular grave threat to this population network from the text data were examined by using KH Coder, alarming and maybe even confusing. used by this population to describe their thoughts, (Hedegaard, Curtin, & Warner, a textual analysis software. By adding stop words into the Five themes were identified from a co-occurrence network by coders as well as looking into the mindset as a whole when 2018). Utah is particularly analysis, we narrowed down the words to ones that have a from 19 clusters of words in the co-occurrence network (Figure 1) : describing suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and problematic, as it consistently ranks definitive meaning. We then were able to view the words 1. physical marks (n=2; e.g., scar), depression. Identifying themes from this data set highest in the nation for rates of provided by the original data set to see correlations and gather 2. description of self-harm or suicide (n=2; e.g., suicidal thinking), shows us a possible thought process found in this pediatric/adolescent death by meaning from those semantic correlations and create themes 3. methods (n=5; e.g., overdose), generation surrounding suicidal thoughts, self- suicide. among the words used. Two coders (JK & JG) reviewed the harm, and depression; this would give clinicians a 4. outcomes (n=5; e.g., end life), This calls for more research to data set and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. better understanding of AYAs. focus on helping these adolescents, 5. motivation (n=13; e.g. helpless) Using this study’s findings, the screening process specifically focusing on risk Table 1. Examples of generational terms could include more relevant word choices that are identification, prevention, and catered to adolescents. This could ensure are intervention, and ultimately, saving Terms Meaning accurately assessed for their risk when being their lives. Social media is an aspect screened. This study discovered that a “motivation” of life where people tend to share Emo Darker attitude theme, a precursor of suicide, within responses, a intimate thoughts, a place that could KYS/KMS Acronym to kill yourself/myself significant finding for future research. be perfect for better detection when it comes to mental health. Yeet Act of throwing or throw yourself out of the world The three-step theory of suicide Kermit Sewage Slide Commit suicide finds that strong suicide ideation References progresses to action (David Klonsky 2meirl4meirl “me in real life” which is used to describe an image or video that relates to an David Klonsky, E., & May, A. M. (2015). The three-step theory (3ST): A new theory of & May, 2015). To detect suicide individual’s bad situation ideation and intention from AYAs’ suicide rooted in the “ideation-to-action” social media posts, understanding framework. International Journal of Cognitive how AYAs talk about their suicide- Figure 1. Five themes of suicidal thought and behavior texts Therapy, 8(2), 114–129. related thoughts and behaviors is https://doi.org/10.1521/ijct.2015.8.2.114 important to prevent suicide. The objectives of this analysis Hedegaard, H., Curtin, S. C., & Warner, M. (2018). study are to pinpoint what words are Suicide Rates in the United States Continue to being used by this population and Increase Key findings Data from the National Vital their common ideas to better detect Statistics System, Mortality. NCHS Data Brief, (309), thoughts and feelings towards 1–8. Retrieved from depression. There are words that https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db309. hold another meaning to this pdf generation compared to the general understanding of the words. We Acknowledgement hope to be able to establish a sort of This work was supported by the University of Utah Office dictionary of words that are used by of Undergraduate Research and by the Intermountain this generation that hold additional Foundation at Primary Children’s Hospital Early Career meaning in the realm of suicide Development Award (PI: Guo) ideation.

Julianne Kimmel University of Utah College of Nursing [email protected]