Exploring Suicide Factors in Online Discourse: Sentiment and Thematic Analysis of Reddit

Suicide remains a critical global health issue, with rising numbers claiming more lives each year despite ongoing prevention efforts. Current research has extensively explored factors influencing suicidal tendencies, emphasizing trauma, mental health disorders, and social relationships. However, traditional studies often relied on traditional data sources and often examined risk factors in isolation, which may not fully capture the dynamics observed in social media platforms. To address these limitations, our study utilizes data from r/SuicideWatch and r/Teenagers to analyze the emotional sentiment and explore themes associated with suicidal ideation, with r/Teenagers serving as a comparative reference. By leveraging natural language processing (NLP) techniques and statistical methodologies, including sentiment analysis and BERTopic modeling, we aim to gain deeper insights into the factors contributing to suicidal thoughts. Using TextBlob, our findings reveal a significant difference in sentiment between the two subreddits, with r/SuicideWatch posts predominantly expressing challenges and distressing emotions. Through BERTopic analysis, we identified key themes such as emotional challenges related to romantic relationships, academic pressure, and substance use concerns in r/SuicideWatch, highlighting their strong association with suicidal ideation. While r/Teenagers had some similar themes regarding struggles with loneliness and academics, the topics were focused more on general adolescent concerns. These findings demonstrate that advanced NLP methods can effectively analyze large-scale social media data, providing valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of suicidal ideation and emphasizing the need for targeted intervention strategies. Suggested improvements include enhancing relationship counseling and peer support networks, implementing school-based mental health programs, and leveraging social media for real-time support and awareness campaigns. By understanding the emotional and thematic nuances of online discussions, these strategies can more effectively address the multifaceted factors contributing to mental health challenges and reduce the risk of suicidal behavior.