Online racism, online mental health engagement, depression, and suicide risk among Asian American and Pacific Islander and Black American emerging adults.

For AAPI emerging adults, higher levels of online mental health engagement significantly amplified the association between online racism and multiple suicide-related and mental health outcomes.

• Sample consisted of 1,553 AAPI emerging adults (M age = 23.96, SD = 3.29)
• Higher online mental health engagement amplified the association between online racism and recent suicidal ideation, lifetime suicidal ideation, lifetime suicide attempts, NSSI, and depressive symptoms
• Latent moderated structural equation modeling was used to examine online mental health engagement as a moderator
• The findings indicate a risk-exacerbating rather than buffering role for online mental health engagement among AAPI individuals

For Black emerging adults, higher levels of online mental health engagement amplified the association between online racism and recent suicidal ideation only.

• Sample consisted of 1,224 Black emerging adults (M age = 23.99, SD = 3.11)
• The risk-exacerbating finding was observed only for recent suicidal ideation (past 2 weeks), not for other suicide-related outcomes
• Unlike AAPI emerging adults, amplification was not observed for lifetime suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, NSSI, or depressive symptoms
• Latent moderated structural equation modeling was used as the analytic approach

Online mental health engagement did not serve as a buffer against depressive symptoms and suicide risk associated with online racism for either group.

• The study originally aimed to explore whether online mental health engagement would buffer the depressive symptoms and suicide risk associated with online racism
• Results were contrary to a buffering hypothesis, with engagement instead exacerbating risk
• This finding raises 'concerns regarding the helpfulness of online mental health engagement'
• Findings applied to both AAPI and Black American emerging adults aged 18-29

The study examined six suicide-related outcomes in relation to online racism and online mental health engagement.

• Suicide outcomes examined included: suicide ideation in the past 2 weeks, lifetime suicide ideation, past-year suicide ideation, lifetime suicide attempt, past-year suicide attempt, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)
• Depressive symptoms were also examined as an outcome
• Survey data were collected from a combined total of 2,777 participants (1,224 Black and 1,553 AAPI)
• Participants were emerging adults aged 18-29 who were exposed to anti-Black and anti-Asian hate online

Despite hate and violence easily encountered online, individuals use social media platforms to engage with their mental health concerns and seek support.

• The study was motivated by the dual reality that online spaces expose racially minoritized individuals to racist interactions while also serving as sites for mental health engagement
• Recent studies suggest exposure to racist online interactions and content may be associated with depressive symptoms and suicide risk among racially minoritized individuals
• The study focused specifically on anti-Black and anti-Asian hate online experienced by emerging adults
• Online mental health engagement was operationalized as a moderator variable in the analytic model