Ruth Tatnell

Worldwide, it is estimated that one in ten people will experience thoughts of suicide in their lifetime (Haregu et al., 2023). Around one-quarter of these will attempt suicide at some point, with 8...

Introduction: Understanding the specific strategies individuals use to cope with their suicidal thoughts may have implications for suicide prevention. This study developed a classification system of coping strategies and applied this system to individual coping behaviors documented in a safety planning intervention smartphone application called Beyond Now.Method: 725 Beyond Now safety planning app users, aged 16 to over 55 years, entered coping strategies that were used to develop a classification system through content analysis. Entries were either user generated or selected from a list of suggested coping strategies, and 2960 entries were classified using the system.Results: Our classification system featured 11 distinct descriptive categories, with media consumption being the most popular coping strategy among Beyond Now users, followed by relaxation and self‐care activities, exercise and creative activities. More than half (57%) of the entries were suggested coping strategies with the remainder being user‐generated entries (43%).Conclusion: A wide range of coping strategies were entered into safety plans, with activities that aim to either distract or provide reductions in emotional arousal common. Future research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of the coping strategies listed in safety plans.

The Covid-19 global pandemic has meant large parts of the world’s population have been isolated from others for often months at a time due to lockdown measures to stop the spread. The effects of is...

Cyberbullying can present a serious risk for adolescents and young adults, with severe effects on victims including adverse mental health outcomes and increased risk of suicide. Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals are significantly more likely to experience cyberbullying. However, little is presently known about the lived cyberbullying experiences of TGD adults despite the prevalence of cyberbullying experienced by the TGD community. TGD participants (n = 66, M = 24 years) were recruited through snowball sampling and completed an online questionnaire as part of a larger study, which included qualitative questions regarding cyberbullying. Participants reported that cyberbullying was experienced predominantly on social media sites and was largely anonymous. The content was often physically and sexually threatening and heavily transphobic. Additionally, some cyberbullying experienced by TGD individuals was perpetrated by other TGD individuals and focused on the identity policing and gatekeeping of TGD spaces. Participants reported cyberbullying evoked negative emotions, and they often responded by either arguing with or blocking the perpetrators, thereby demonstrating resilience. Some participants sought social support in response to cyberbullying, which acted as a protective factor. Findings reveal specific harms associated with cyberbullying as experienced by TGD individuals and highlight the need for further research and targeted support.

Although nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)—deliberate damaging of body tissue without suicidal intent—is a behavior that occurs in interaction with real-world contexts, studying NSSI in the natural environment has historically been impossible. Recent advances in real-time monitoring technologies have revolutionized our ability to do exactly that, providing myriad research and clinical practice opportunities. In this viewpoint paper, we review new research pathways to improve our ability to understand, predict, and prevent NSSI, and provide critical perspectives on the responsibilities inherent to conducting real-time monitoring studies on NSSI. Real-time monitoring brings unique opportunities to advance scientific understanding about (1) the dynamic course of NSSI, (2) the real-time predictors thereof and ability to detect acute risk, (3) the ecological validity of theoretical models, (4) the functional mechanisms and outcomes of NSSI, and (5) the promotion of person-centered care and novel technology-based interventions. By considering the opportunities of real-time monitoring research in the context of the accompanying responsibilities (eg, inclusive recruitment, sound and transparent research practices, participant safety and engagement, measurement reactivity, researcher well-being and training), we provide novel insights and resources to open the black box of daily life in the next decade(s) of NSSI research.