The impact of digital media and social networks on the level of suicidality in the adolescent population with practical recommendations for optimizing the role of ambulance crews in identifying and managing acute crisis conditions

Abstract

The study analyzes the impact of digital media and social networks on adolescent suicidality and proposes practical solutions to strengthen the role of EMS teams at the pre-hospital stage. The relevance is determined by the growing involvement of young users in the online environment and its association with depressive symptoms, cyberbullying, and exposure to destructive content. The aim is to identify media consumption patterns associated with acute crises and assess the effectiveness of specialized EMS personnel training. The novelty lies in combining clinical, behavioral, and operational data with a focus on manageable intervention points. Materials and methods: mixed design for 2020-2023; retrospective analysis of 856 EMS call records related to suicide attempts in adolescents aged 13-18, with content analysis of digital triggers; prospective survey of 152 hospitalized adolescents using BDI II and SMUQ; survey of 75 EMS employees regarding knowledge, tactics, and training needs. Descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, Student s t-test, and Pearson s were applied; ethical requirements and informed consent were observed. Results showed that adolescents after a suicide attempt spend more time on social media than peers, with risk determined by the quality of interactions. Connections were found between viewing self-harm content and depression ( (r=0.687), cyberbullying and depression (r=0.645), negative social comparison and depression (r=0.512), passive doomscrolling and depression (r=0.321) The overall share of digital triggers in EMS call records reached 26,9%, dominated by cyberbullying (12,27%) and acute online conflicts. A high-risk profile was developed for screening and prevention in school and clinical settings. Discussion confirms that the toxicity of online interactions is a key mechanism of risk formation and necessitates an update of EMS protocols. Pilot training for paramedics improved successful verbal de-escalation rates from 36,84% to 75,61%, identification of digital triggers from 15,79% to 68,29%, referrals to specialized hospitals from 47,37% to 80,49%, as well as reduced time spent at the scene. Recommendations: standardized screening of digital factors, regular training on crisis communication and routing, integration of data into medical information systems. Limitations include self- reporting and a regional sample; prospects involve longitudinal and causal models to clarify causality.