Substance Use and Emotional States Associated with Suicidal Ideation: Insights from Social Media Posts

Substance use is often intertwined with mental health challenges such as suicidal ideation, serving both as a contributing factor and a perceived coping mechanism for overwhelming stress. Individuals may turn to substances such as alcohol, cannabis, and opioids for temporary relief or self-medication to mitigate emotional distress, which can potentially intensify suicidal thoughts. This study explores the prevalence of substance use mentions in social media posts expressing suicidal ideation and examines the emotional patterns associated with each substance type. The findings highlight a high frequency of references to alcohol and cannabis, alongside a significant presence of anger-related emotions across all categories of suicidal posts. These insights emphasize the role of substance use and its emotional dynamics among individuals with suicidal thoughts on social media, pointing to pathways for more targeted intervention strategies.