Exploring suicide chatter on Twitter during COVID-19 lockdown in Malaysia

This study explored trends in suicide chatter on Twitter (now X) during COVID-19, comparing tweets that met suicide-related terms across five lockdown phases (MCO) in Malaysia. Analyzing 1967 tweets from 18 March 2020 to 1 September 2021, the study identified two key trends: a peak in suicide-related tweets during the initial Movement Control Order (MCO 1.0) in April 2020, followed by a decrease in chatter as restrictions eased during Conditional MCO (CMCO) and Recovery MCO (RMCO). Notably, even with the reintroduction of strict measures in MCO 2.0 and MCO 3.0, suicide-related chatter remained low. The analysis revealed a significant, though weak, association between tweet types and lockdown restrictions, suggesting other contributing factors. Limitations include the focus on English-language tweets, potentially overlooking other languages, and the inability to compare findings with pre-pandemic patterns. The findings are relevant for policymakers and public health officials managing public sentiment during crises, emphasizing the dynamic nature of online communication in Malaysia. Future research should include multilingual analysis and explore contextual factors over extended periods, including pre- and post-pandemic phases, for a more nuanced understanding of social media use during crises.