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THE NUMBER OF suicides in the United States increased by 10% in the months after the 2014 death of Robin Williams.
A major study by a US university has found that while it can not conclusively prove a link between the two, it adds empirical weight to previous research which has shown that publicised suicides can influence vulnerable people.
In the five months after the death of the much-loved actor in August 2014, 18,690 suicides were reported in the United States.
Researches at the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have concluded that this is greater than the 16,849 suicides that would otherwise be expected during this period.
Furthermore, the research also found that there was a 32% increase in suffocation suicides in the five months that followed Williams’ death by the same method.
Suicide by other methods also increased but by the much smaller rate of 3%.
The research noted that in the days and weeks that followed Williams’ death there was widespread media coverage of his suicide.
Much of this, the research concludes, “deviated from the established suicide reporting guidelines”.
In the case of Williams, details of the specific location where he died as well as specifics relating to the method were widely reported.
“Although we cannot determine with certainty that these deaths are attributable to the death of Robin Williams, we found both a rapid increase in suicides in August 2014, and specifically suffocation suicides, that paralleled the time and method of Williams’ death,” said researcher David S. Fink.
Copycat
Mental health and suicide awareness charities provide detailed advice to media organisations on how to report on suicide in order to guard against ‘copycat’ actions.
These guidelines are seen as especially important in the case of celebrities or high-profile individuals.
Headline, which provides guidance in Ireland in this area, notes that copycat suicides may occur following the death of high-profile persons and warns against “glamorising” such deaths.
“The ‘model’ may be a famous person or celebrity, but could also be a relative, friend or neighbour living in a local community,” Headline states in its guidelines fore the media
The contagious effect may be precipitated by pervasive grief or over-identification with a person who has died or the circumstances under which they took their life.
In the case of Williams, the report points out that social media is “a new and emerging risk factor” for how information relating to celebrity suicides are reported.
“For example, in the case of Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994, there was minimal change in suicide rates,” the research states.
The full report was published in academic journal Plos One.
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Depression is an invisible demon that haunts sufferers without let up. It’s there in the dark when you try to sleep or in the light hiding behind things that should make you feel safe. It’s one constant is its presence in those it torments. It’s not a “get a grip” ailment nor a “get over it” condition. It’s an individual and terrifying and invisible condition that’s sometimes more serious than something that can be seen and measured. A hug or call goes a long way to connecting those with depression to those they care about
@Marc Power: i suffer with it, its like been stuck in a dark cave,
I don’t know how I get through it,
The world now is so cold, people are not caring, all they want are their phones and iPads
tv is very negative,
Community’s are gone, its a very lonely life today.
I don’t see any of that changing.
@Marc Power:
I find your description of depression a tad over the top.
It is a daily struggle I will admit. But I suppose everybody’s experience of depression is different. The chronic condition you describe is not every ones experience of depression, and its severity can vary from person to person, and people can have varying experiences of depression over time.
Yes hugs and calls are a good idea. I have always found music, of whatever type or style, to be very helpful. experiencing and appreciating nature and its continuity I have also found to be benificial.
@Barry O Neill: Tommy Tiernan did a great interview with Damien Dempsey about it on RTÉ last night.
@Con Murphy: you have some neck coming on here and belittling people’s experiences with mental health issues. My comment is based on many years of experience and private difficulties. Learn some manners and compassion or keep your ill informed and ignorant comments yup yourself. Bet you would not come out and accuse someone with a physical ailment as been over the top. How dare you
@Barry O Neill: Barry i hope you find some peace. Lots of good people out there who understand that depression is a dark and debilitating condition.
@Barry O Neill: more people suffer with it than you may realise. Understanding it and acknowledging you have it is very positive step. You’re not alone.
@Marc Power: people with physical ailments do sometimes get accused of milking it also. In the past, depression was swept under the carpet and not talked about and that was not great for depression sufferers but was great for the rest of us. Jesus every time I turn on the tv someone is on talking about it whether it’s Bressie or someone else (well it’s normally Bressie in fairness). Sometimes you’d wonder if all this talking about it isn’t just dwelling on it a little bit. Have depression and suicide rates fallen now with all this openness? There’s a lot to be said for just getting on with life and you might still be depressed but you’ll be too busy to think about it. Take up hang-gliding or gardening. Read a book. Put down the phone or iPad and engage with the real world again.
@Barry O Neill: I suppose on bad days, Barry, we all feel that the world is gone very cold. Communities arent gone though it does seem that way. Have you ever thought of volunteering a few hours a week. eg sports clubs, animal charities, tidy towns, credit union, homeless shelter, mens. My single brother is in his 50′s (who tends to keep to himself) brings my 7 yr old to training every week. He has got to know so many people in that 1 hour a week and they’ve got to know him. You have something to offer your community and you’ll get in back in the double. X
@Sean: your callous disregard and immature interpretation of depression is disturbing. Imagine telling a person with some physical condition to get over it. Shocking ignorance
@Marc Power: I didn’t say they had to get over it. I said I’d prefer not to hear about it. And if someone wanted to tell me about their bad back or their dodgy knees I’d feel the same.
@Barry O Neill: have you tried talking to your friends,family and let them know what you going through ? It’s good to talk.
As someone who suffers from chronic depression, and was deeply affected by Robin’s suicide, I find this article disturbing as it is perpetuating the idea in the article itself. Suicide is not a fan. Leave my Captain alone
Fad even. Thank you autocorrect
@Joseph Howard:
Clearly the world is not a perfect place and all sort of events, big and small in our lives can affect us.
People who suffer from depression often are very open and conscientious people who should never feel any shame or guilt because of this.
Suicide is never a solution, it is in my view an anti solution, an act which ends all possibility of progress in ones life.
We all owe it to ourselves as human beings to get the most out of life, while not ignoring the problems around us either in our own lives or others. If we suffer from depression it is still not the whole story of our lives, even on a daily basis, there is much more to our lives than just being depressed.Accentuate the positive where possible, that does not mean that we go around with our eyes blindfolded to the negative side of life, but do not be dominated by the negativity.
All the best with your continuing search for better mental health.
The phenomenon that suicide can be contagious is well documented.
http://freakonomics.com/podcast/new-freakonomics-radio-podcast-the-suicide-paradox/
Robin Williams had dementia (Lewy Body) which is what led to his suicide.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-lewy-body-dementia-gripped-robin-williams1/
Guilt is killing lot of males..
@cortisola: please… Elaborate
@cortisola: I’m sorry what? What do males have to do with this?
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