suicide contagion

More than 50 research studies worldwide have found that certain types of news coverage can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals. The magnitude of the increase is related to the amount, duration, and prominence of coverage. Risk of additional suicides increases when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic/graphic headlines or images, and repeated/extensive coverage sensationalizes or glamorizes a death. ​ Suicide contagion, or copycat suicide, occurs when one or more suicides are reported in a way that contributes to another suicide.

See suicide for more information on how to cover suicide responsibly.

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