Mining Public Voices: Analyzing Suicide-Related Thoughts and Behaviors in YouTube Videos and Comments Using Topic Modeling.

Abstract

YouTube has become a common platform for sharing difficult experiences and sensitive information, including suicide-related thoughts and behaviors. This study analyzes YouTube videos and their comments using topic modeling to explore the common themes discussed within the online community. Our findings show that these videos and comments not only focus on personal stories but also provide encouragement and healthcare-related information, highlighting social media's role in health promotion and peer support. Given that millions of people use various social media platforms to discuss a wide range of topics, these platforms serve as a rich source of data. As such, YouTube videos and comments offer health services researchers a valuable source of public opinion data, providing insights into societal attitudes and perceptions that may differ from those collected through traditional research methods.