To What Extent Does the Reporting Behavior of the Media Regarding a Celebrity Suicide Influence Subsequent Suicides in South Korea?

Abstract

This study investigated the nature of media coverage of a national entertainer's suicide and its impact on subsequent suicides. After the celebrity suicide, the number of suicide-related articles reported surged around 80 times in the week after the suicide compared with the week prior. Many articles (37.1%) violated several critical items on the World Health Organization suicide reporting guidelines, like containing a detailed suicide method. Most gender and age subgroups were at significantly higher risk of suicide during the 4 weeks after the celebrity suicide. Results imply that massive and noncompliant media coverage of a celebrity suicide can cause a large-scale copycat effect.

Anomie or imitation? The Werther effect of celebrity suicides on suicide rates in 34 OECD countries, 1960–2014

“…This pattern of imitative suicide is called the Werther effect (Phillips 1974), named after the main character in Goethe's 1774 novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, whose fictional suicide induced an increase in real suicides at the time in Europe (Stack 2003). Prior research has found empirical support for the Werther effect with regard to celebrity suicides (Lee et al 2014;Niederkrotenthaler et al 2012;Stack 1987;1990;2003;Wasserman 1984;Yang et al 2013;Yip et al 2006). Anomie and imitation are presented as the main explanatory mechanisms of the Werther effect.…”

“…In 2008, a famous South Korean actress committed suicide, and her death led to a rise in the country's suicide rate in the following months (Lee et al 2014). This pattern of imitative suicide is called the Werther effect (Phillips 1974), named after the main character in Goethe's 1774 novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, whose fictional suicide induced an increase in real suicides at the time in Europe (Stack 2003).…”

“…Imitation is suggested as the main mechanism in most research on the Werther effect. Studies show that there is an increase in suicide rates after media reporting about celebrity suicides (Bollen and Phillips 1982;Gould 2001;Hassan 1995;Jonas 1992;Lee et al 2014;Phillips 1974;Stack 1987;2003) and suggest imitation as an explanation, although anomie can never be ruled out completely as an alternative explanation (Hoffman and Bearman 2015). Evidence in favor of imitation over anomie includes the fact that the effect becomes stronger when the media reports on a suicide and its circumstances in greater detail, especially when the reporting includes photographs and a detailed account of the means used (Hawton et al 1999;Shoval et al 2005).…”

Changes in Internet Suicide Search Volumes Following Celebrity Suicides

“…M edia reports on suicide deaths are related to increases in suicidal behavior in the general population. [1][2][3][4] For instance, Kim conducted a content analysis of 3,412 suicide lifeline calls in South Korea and found that media reports of others' suicide deaths, including celebrity suicides, impacted the details of the individuals' own suicide plans. Specifically, publicized suicide deaths provided ideas for what method(s) to use and places where to make an attempt.…”

Dangerous Words? An Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Detailed Reporting About Suicide on Subsequent Risk

“…Concerns about iatrogenic effects of media reporting have been examined in more than 50 observational and naturalistic studies across nations and cultures, some of which suggest that media coverage of suicide and subsequent population suicide rates are correlated (Sisak & Varnik, 2012). Results of a meta-analysis of 10 international, population-based studies further suggest that suicide rates increased by .26 per 100,000 during the month immediately following a celebrity suicide, with larger increases being associated with the national prominence of the celebrity (Lee, Lee, Hwang, & Stack, 2014;Niederkrotenthaler et al, 2012). That being said, according to reviews considering the findings across studies, support for a "copycat" effect is infrequent and limited to specific contexts (e.g., Stack, 2003Stack, , 2005.…”