Part 9 | From a neuropsychological perspective, each type of suicide according to Durkheim, corresponds to different patterns of brain dysfunction.
Part 8 | Working in Brazil has shown me how cultural factors interact with Durkheim’s suicide types in unique ways. Brazilian culture traditionally emphasises strong family bonds and community connection, as well as emphasising warmth, personal connection, and emotional expressiveness, these are what we call protective factors against egoistic suicide. And yet these same cultural strengths can become vulnerabilities in digital contexts.
Part 7 | Digital spaces often lack clear moral frameworks, think a little about the following questions:
What’s private versus public?
What’s authentic versus performative?
How do traditional relationship rules apply to online connections?
Part 6 Whilst I was looking for inspiration to write these posts, I found a paper I wrote on Émile Durkheim’s “Le Suicide” from 1897. Rereading the paper, I realised that this sociologist’s writings about human despair might hold part of the key to understanding why a 16-year-old in Florida could find so much comfort in an AI chatbot.
Part 5 However, digital-age risk assessment must expand to include new indicators, such as isolation patterns, anthropomorphization of Ai, and repetitive behaviours.
Part 4 In my practice, I see many who maintain extensive online social networks yet report feeling profoundly misunderstood by their families. This disconnect between digital and physical social worlds creates what I’m going to describe as intergenerational digital isolation, a phenomenon where young people increasingly turn to AI or anonymous online sources for emotional support rather than trusted adults in their physical environment.
Part 3 Let me give you a little background about the Origins of Yellow September from Brazil
Yellow September began in Brazil in 2015, spearheaded by the Centro de Valorização da Vida (CVV) in partnership with the Federal Council of Medicine and the Brazilian Psychiatric Association. The choice of yellow, which represents life, light, and hope, and the choice of the month of September, coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, thus creating a month-long focus on awareness and prevention.
Part 2 of our Yellow September Series | The Crisis We Cannot Ignore.
A neuropsychologist’s perspective on the intersection of technology, isolation, and suicide prevention.
