Medscape (3/19, Brooks, Subscription Publication) reports, “Media reports of celebrity suicides are associated with a ‘clear and compelling’ increase in suicide rates in the general population,” investigators concluded after identifying and then analyzing data from “31 relevant studies.” The conclusions of the “systematic review and meta-analysis show reports of celebrity suicide were linked to an increase in suicide of up to 18% over the following one to two months.” Additionally, “reporting the method of suicide was associated with an increase of 18% to 44% in the risk of suicide by the same method.” The findings were published online March 18 in BMJ. The authors of an accompanying editorial wrote that “these findings will help give media outlets a ‘clearer sense of the potential effect of their reporting.’” HealthDay (3/19, Norton) also covers the story.
Related Links:
— Medscape (requires login and subscription)