Psychologists have recently spoken out about why teenagers are so susceptible to the Blue Whale suicide game. So far, more than 100 teenagers around the world have committed suicide because of the game, and game designer Philipp Budeikin has been jailed for inciting people to commit self-mutilation and suicide, Science and Technology Daily reported on May 25.

The game consists of a series of 50 tasks assigned to players by an administrator, with the final challenge allegedly requiring players to commit suicide. For example, one task asks participants to get up at 4:20 a.m. every morning for several consecutive days to watch horror movies.

Xu Ruiping, a psychologist, explained that the game's requirements exert considerable influence on the mental status of players. A lack of sufficient sleep for a prolonged period of time can lead to anxiety, depression and even insanity; teenagers can gradually lose their cognitive capacities and ability to discriminate. Xu added that progressive desensitization and hypnotic suggestion are also used in the game to reduce players’ fear of death and further encourage them to undertake extreme acts.

As for why the most vulnerable group is teenagers, Xu noted that the game makes use of teenagers' often unstable psychology, preying on their tendency to be suggestible and desire to fit in with their peers. Xu advised that an effective intervention would include helping teenaged players to find meaning and motivation in life.

In addition, psychologists corrected the common misconception that psychology alone can make people commit suicide. Hypnotism, for example, only works on patients willing to cooperate, and controlling people’s minds and behaviors is even harder.

Regular mental health assessments are as necessary as regular physical examinations to maintain one's health and enjoy a high quality of life, the experts added.