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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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Lot of hate on here but I love H&M. Great clothes and not overpriced.
Dunno why anyone buys Penneys ill-fitting, poor quality clothing when for literally a couple of Euro more you can get decent stuff in H&M.
External investment continues – Wetherspoons, Tesco, McDonald’s, Deals, Aldi etc. etc.
Investment is a good thing. Confidence in the market. Jobs created. What every country needs.
It you walk from Stephens Green to Parnell Square – looking at the retail outlets – you could be in Glasgow, Sunderland or Lyon.
Just like the rest, we’ve lost our our identity completely.
Every high st in Europe has the same craps.
only if you define your national identity based on shopping.
I couldn’t care less where these shops come from or what “identity”they’re making , as long as they’re creating stable jobs and lots of them.
99 – ‘national’ wasn’t typed. Keep up.
What’s a high st
I love H&M, they do a good range of affordable clothes. I’ve been getting a lot of good work shirts there ever since I stopped buying charvet.
Dame street will become Dublins new shopping street. Always wondered why Abercrombie and Fitch never bought the building H&M are now in. It was on the market last year for €3 million. A&F pay an annual rent of €900k for the building they’re in.
Always thought that myself, would have had it paid off already!
Hoorah for cheap one wash clothing and the poor sweat shop workers who have to manufacture them.
I dunno. H&M is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative apparently http://www.ethicaltrade.org/about-eti/our-members
Every clothing company basically uses the same sweatshops, without these clothing would be much more expensive, which most people wouldn’t be prepared to pay. Also no matter how expensive or cheap clothing is, all companies have had their own ethical scandals in this regard, no company is immune due to the fact they often outsource manufacturing to distance themselves if anything does go wrong
Kevin – do you include M&S?
Well a lot of main stream clothing is manufactured in very impoverished parts of the world paying pennys to anyone whos willing to work 12 hour shifts every day but top top brands create all designs from the respected countries they originate from, Italy, France etc. That aside Id happily pay a bit extra if i knew 100% that the poor who slave over our materialistic needs where given the decent wage so they dont have to suffer for our benefit!
Just open in Galway already!
have your say