The influence of search volume for suicide on suicide rates: focusing on gender differences

Background: Suicide poses a significant public health challenge worldwide, with rising concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite global efforts to reduce suicide rates, predicting suicidal behavior remains challenging. This study aims to investigate the relationship between internet search volumes related to suicide and actual suicide rates in South Korea. Methods: Using data from Naver Data Lab and Statistics Korea covering January 2016 to April 2024, this study conducted regression analyses to investigate how search volumes for suicide-related terms correlate with monthly suicide counts. Results: Our findings indicate a significant positive correlation between overall search volumes for suicide and total suicide cases, particularly emphasizing the mediating role of searches related to depression. However, this association was statistically significant among females but not in males. Conclusions: This research highlights the potential of digital data to inform public health strategies and improve suicide prevention efforts in South Korea, underlining the importance of integrating mental health support into economic recovery policies.