School board hearing sparks concern about bullying and mental health
Other discussions showed fear about SSRI side effects and debated the causes of autism.
Other discussions showed fear about SSRI side effects and debated the causes of autism.
Last week, a Virginia school board held a public hearing to discuss bullying after a student died by suicide. Articles covering the hearing generated conversation about how bullying impacts students’ mental health and what schools and parents can do to prevent it. Plus, an X post spread false claims and fueled panic about potential side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and a new meta-analysis sparked debate about the causes of autism.
In light of these discussions, communicators may share bullying and suicide prevention resources for students and their families, outline the benefits of SSRIs, and provide information about autism.
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What’s trending nationally in conversations about mental health
In March, a 10-year-old girl in Virginia died by suicide. The girl’s parents said she had experienced bullying at school and called for the school to adopt a stricter anti-bullying policy. On April 10, the school board held a public hearing to discuss anti-bullying measures and concluded that the current policy should remain in place. A Virginia news station shared a video clip from the meeting on Facebook, where it received approximately 8.5 million views as of April 16. The video showed the girl’s mother yelling that her daughter had seen a school counselor and “nobody called me” before being escorted out of the room. Many commenters expressed support for the mother and stated that schools should do more to prevent bullying, while some suggested that the parents need to take accountability for their children’s behavior. Others shared personal stories about how bullying negatively impacted their or their children’s mental health.
On April 13, an X user known for promoting conspiracy theories claimed without evidence that taking SSRIs more than doubles the risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts. The post received approximately 742,200 views, 6,000 likes, 2,200 reposts, and 300 comments as of April 16. Some commenters shared personal stories about how SSRIs allegedly caused them or their loved ones to experience suicidal thoughts, and many suggested that the medications have dangerous health impacts like heart problems. Some commenters discouraged others to stop taking SSRIs, but a few mentioned that SSRIs have helped them live healthier, happier lives.
Recommendations brought to you by the health communication experts behind Infodemiology.com.
Recommendations for public health professionals
Each week, the Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about mental health.
Online conversations about bullying prevention typically occur in response to news stories about bullied students dying by suicide. In response, communicators may share bullying prevention resources for children and their caregivers, as well as the warning signs of bullying. Communicators may also want to outline the warning signs of suicide in children and teens and recirculate mental health resources geared toward youth, such as the peer support hotline YouthLine and the Trevor Project’s hotline for LGBTQ+ youth.
Given unfounded claims about side effects of SSRIs, communicators may explain that SSRIs have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and some other mental health and chronic pain conditions. Some antidepressants, including certain SSRIs, carry an FDA warning about a risk of increased suicidal thoughts in some people under the age of 25. The warning was issued after an FDA analysis of clinical trials showed that some children and teens taking antidepressants experienced a slight increase in suicidal thoughts. However, none of the children or teens in those studies died by suicide. Newer research suggests that the benefits of antidepressants like SSRIs may outweigh potential risks in young people. Messaging may emphasize that untreated depression remains a major risk factor for suicide and that like all medications, SSRIs have been rigorously tested to ensure safety. Communicators may also stress that anyone taking SSRIs should do so under the guidance of a health care provider and that antidepressants may work best in combination with therapy. Sharing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in messaging about suicide prevention is recommended.