“Quero sumir”: análise discursiva de comentários às ideações suicidas na rede social X (Twitter)

Abstract

In this research, I investigate the phenomenon of suicide in the Brazilian context, recognizing it as a public health issue. Consequently, the relevance of identifying signs is emphasized, especially suicidal ideations, which often precede the consummation of this act, manifesting through thoughts that can be expressed directly or indirectly, such as phrases indicating the desire to die or disappear. Thus, the expression “quero sumir” (I want to disappear) is highlighted as a possible predictor of suicidal ideation, being less associated with memes and, therefore, more suitable for analysis. Consequently, the main objective of the study is to analyze the discourses of comments (affective reactions) posted on tweets from X (former Twitter) that presented this formulation, using the resources of Appraisal and Interdiscursivity, with secondary intentions to discriminate discourses and ideological devices used by commentators, in addition to observing the existence of encouragement to seek professional help and contribute to collecting data for suicide prevention. For this purpose, employing the theoretical-methodological approach of Critical Discourse Studies (CDS), the research is based on the sociodiscursive relationship presented by Fairclough (2003), conceiving discourse as a space of social struggles. Furthermore, through the analysis of 12 tweets and their respective 47 comments published on the X platform, the resources of Appraisal (through the sentiment region “affection”) proposed by Martin and White (2005) and the analytical category Interdiscursivity by Fairclough (2003) are utilized. Thus, the analysis revealed the presence of different types of discourses in the comments, such as capitalist, religious, romantic, science-denying, hedonistic, hopeful and optimistic, and meritocratic. Additionally, the effectiveness of the Appraisal category, especially in the dimension of affect, is evidenced, highlighting the effects of gradation and evaluation of affect in the representation of emotional aspects of interactions. An effective relationship between events, practices, and social structures was observed, emphasizing the negotiator character of the comments. Also, it was noted that the expression “quero sumir” triggered conversational shifts capable of shaping interactions and establishing positions of power on social media. Furthermore, the exposure of distinct cultural configurations in the face of manifestations of suicidal ideations aroused emotions related to the (In)security set. Finally, the research was concluded by reinforcing the complexity of discursive analysis and the need for further investigations into discourses related to suicide. It is also emphasized the importance of understanding not only the nuances of discourses but also the underlying emotional dimension in online interactions, as this comprehensive understanding is crucial for effective suicide prevention on digital social media platforms.