Many people in Facebook communities in Vietnam are egging on vulnerable individuals with mental health disorders to commit suicide or self-harm.

Instead of encouraging people to overcome hardships and woes, many groups on Facebook with hundreds of thousands of members have been used to share negative information and spur self-harm.

Abnormal advocacy of suicide

Pages with gloom-ridden names are mushrooming on Facebook, including 'Hoi nhung nguoi muon tu tu' (Group of people who want to commit suicide), 'Hoi nhung nguoi tim cach tu tu khong dau' (Group of people who seek painless suicide), 'Hoi nhung nguoi muon tu tu sau khi biet diem thi' (Group of people who want to commit suicide after receiving test scores), and more.

Contrary to the original purpose of the pages, which is to share sadness with and unburden pressure to those having suicidal ideation, these groups have their members provoke and agitate the people to take their own lives.

Accordingly, under the posts on personal dilemmas of life like bankruptcy, long-term depression, body insecurity, low test scores, and social isolation are comments advising self-harm.

There are even online accounts showing how to die step by step, such as taking an overdose of medicine, drinking toxins, or self-abusing to hasten death.

Beneath the post by an account named T.D. in one of the aforementioned groups calling for effective methods to die peacefully are hundreds of comments about sleeping pills, sedatives, and even trading toxins.

According to the World Health Organization, mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health.

In 2019, an estimated 703,000 people around the world of all ages died by suicide partially due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Vietnam, data published by the Ministry of Health shows that nearly 15 million people are affected by 10 common mental disorders.

Patients with psychological illnesses who fail to seek empathy are highly likely to engage in self-injury following others’ provocations, said Tran Quang Trong from the department of clinical psychology at Le Van Thinh Hospital.

People who experience depression or psychological trauma often join groups or communities on social networks to receive emotional support since online social groups are more accessible than mental health care services.

Furthermore, those who are stuck in a mental loop of worries and issues may attempt to end their lives due to others’ incitement to commit suicide.

People who are having suicidal thoughts often talk about death, suicide, or find no reason to continue living, with most of them giving away valuable possessions, losing interest in personal appearance, and increasing the use of drugs or alcohol, said Nguyen Thi Ai Van, a practitioner at the National Institute of Mental Health under Bach Mai Hospital.

They prepare for death by being absorbed in the thought of death, alienating themselves from friends and social activities as well as growing weary of hobbies, work, and school, Van said.

They may also have suffered from discrimination or failure and had a history of violence or hostility, with many of them unwilling to connect with potential helpers.

In need of timely intervention

Early detection of suicidal risk is crucial, affirmed Dang Thi Hai Yen from the department of clinical psychology of the National Institute of Mental Health under Bach Mai Hospital.

The risk of suicide will increase if depression or psychological trauma persists.

Mental health professionals recommend patients see psychologists and psychiatrists for help. 

On the other hand, people whose family members have suicidal intention should also contact medical authorities for immediate aid.

It is best to take loved ones to advanced medical facilities when there are signs of emotional instability to receive continuous mental and physical health care support.

Apart from that, it is also essential to equip them with problem-solving skills, conflict resolution, and how to handle non-violent disputes.

Above all, try to prevent them from accessing provocative social media sources that are potentially lethal.

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