What Many Feared: Study Links Media Coverage of Celebrity Suicides to Spike in Suicide Rates

By Kam Kompani,

April 13, 2020

The media’s coverage of a celebrity’s death by suicide is associated with a 13% increase in suicide rates among the general public, according to a study released last month. The researchers further observed a terrifying 30% rise in similar suicides when media reports indicated the suicide method used by the celebrity.

General reporting on suicides, on the other hand, were not found to affect suicide rates, but could not be ruled out either, the authors said.

A spike in the number of “copycat” suicides following media reports of a celebrity’s suicide is known as the Werther effect. It was first introduced following a reported rise in suicides among young men in Germany and other parts of Europe after the publication of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s famous 1774 novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, which depicted the circumstances leading to the suicide of the story’s protagonist, Werther.

In the five months after Robin Williams’ death, the suicide rate in the United States climbed by 10%. (Image by Eva Rinaldi 2011)

The researchers behind the current study examined the link between media reports of celebrity suicides and suicides rates among the general population by systematically reviewing over 30 studies that met their strict criteria.

The authors highlighted three possible mechanisms that could explain why there are such spikes in the number of suicides among the general public following media reports of a celebrity’s death by suicide:

“Identification with the deceased person, which might occur more frequently when the reported suicides are about individuals with high social standing; increased media reporting of suicide leading to normalisation of suicide as an acceptable way to cope with difficulties; and information on suicide methods, which might influence the choice of suicide method by a vulnerable individual.

The 2008 global financial crisis was associated with a 6% increase in suicide. (Image from Pixabay)

“Our findings support support several of these mechanisms: Firstly, reporting on deaths of celebrities by suicide appears to increase total suicides, suggesting that the phenomenon goes beyond the influence of knowing the suicide method used by the celebrity.

“Secondly, some evidence exists of stronger effects in studies focusing on suicide by entertainers, compared with other celebrities, consistent with their strong public identity, which has been previously described for entertainment celebrities in particular.

“Thirdly, the finding of a pronounced increase in suicide by the same method as that of a celebrity suggests that transfer of information about the method might be another relevant factor in the association. Media reporting on a suicide method increases the cognitive availability of this method, and individuals considering suicide might be more likely to subsequently select the method used by celebrities.”

There are approximately 800,000 suicides a year worldwide, and it is estimated that at least six people are directly affected by each suicide death. (Image by John Hain from Pixabay)

Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon. A recent survey estimated that 4% of Americans had seriously considered taking their own life in the previous 12 months, and 1% of the population had made plans to do so, “suggesting media reports of suicide have the potential to negatively influence many vulnerable people who might be swayed by news items,” the authors concluded.

Tackling the Issue

More than 150 studies have investigated how media reports impact suicide rates. Mental health and suicide prevention organizations worldwide, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), have developed guidelines on how to responsibly report on suicides.

The authors believe that their results support the “continued use and promotion of guidelines on responsible media reporting of suicide, which are the best available interventions to address and prevent imitation effects in the population.”

Not all media reporting about suicide is necessarily bad. Media reports on persons who were in adverse life circumstances but who managed to cope constructively with their suicidal thoughts have been associated with decreases in suicidal behaviour. (Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay)

Adding that: “Collaboration between suicide prevention experts and media professionals in implementing these guidelines is an essential part of any suicide prevention strategy. Caution should be exercised in reporting suicides by celebrities in particular. The media will continue to report on newsworthy suicides but have a social responsibility to mitigate the likelihood of the Werther effect.”

Past studies have shown that the media does not always fully adhere to the guidelines, the MinnPost reported. “The 2014 suicide of actor and comedian Robin Williams is a case in point. A study found that U.S. newspapers only ‘moderately adhered’ to the guidelines when writing about his suicide. Research also revealed that in the five months after Williams’ death, the suicide rate in the United States climbed by 10% — about 1,800 additional deaths. The highest number of unexpected suicides during that period was among men, especially those aged 30 to 44. There was also a 32% increase in suicides by the method used by Williams. By comparison, other methods of suicide rose by only 3%.”



Study: Niederkrotenthaler et al. (2020). Association between suicide reporting in the media and suicide: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ.