Internet Addiction and Suicide

What is Internet addiction?

Internet addiction, which includes smartphone addiction, occurs when the time a person spends online or the type of online activities they engage in cause interpersonal, family, medical, marital, academic, or work-related difficulties.

internet-addiction-suicide

What activities are associated with Internet addiction?

  • Surfing the web
  • Reading and writing text messages and emails
  • Following or participating in conversations on social networks (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitch, TikTok, YouNow, Whisper, etc.)
  • Playing online games such as Fortnite, World of Warcraft, League of Legends on a computer, smartphone, tablet, or video game console

How to identify Internet addiction

Symptoms of Internet addiction include:

  • Feeling stressed, worried, or irritable when you can’t get online
  • Wanting to spend less time online, but being unable to do so
  • Thinking about the next time you’ll be online while doing other things
  • Staying online longer than expected
  • Lying about how much time you spend online
  • Neglecting family and friends due to Internet use
  • Missing work or school to spend more time online
  • Neglecting basic needs (sleeping and eating) while online

What problems can Internet addiction cause?

Internet addiction can cause a range of problems, including:

  • Problems at work or job loss
  • Problems at school or dropping out
  • Conflicts with loved ones or loss of spouse or friends
  • A loss of self-esteem
  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts

Do you have an Internet addiction and suicidal thoughts?

People who are addicted to the Internet may have suicidal thoughts. If this is the case for you, consult the following sections:

01 Taking stock of your mental health

The first step toward taking back control is identifying what’s causing your suicidal thoughts.

02 Taking care of yourself

There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself and regain your balance when you’re having suicidal thoughts.

03 Talking about it with your loved ones

Asking for help from your family and friends isn’t always easy. There are different ways of going about it.

04 Finding support services

Every day, all sorts of people contact support services to get the help they need.

What to do if you think you have an Internet addiction

Internet addiction can be treated. If you have any symptoms that indicate you’re addicted to the Internet, first call Info-Social at 811, option 2, to discuss your situation with a psychosocial worker and be referred, if necessary, to resources in your area that can provide support.

For an assessment and follow-up with a healthcare professional, consult a general practitioner (your family doctor, for example), a psychologist or contact your local CLSC.

Other resources can help people with Internet addictions.

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Advice for people with Internet addictions

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