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Asharani PV, Koh YS, Tan RHS, Tan YB, Gunasekaran S, Lim B, Tudor Car L, Subramaniam M. The impact of media reporting of suicides on subsequent suicides in Asia: A systematic review. ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2024; 53:152-169. [PMID: 38920243 DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2023237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Introduction This systematic review is aimed at (1) evaluating the association between media portrayals of suicides and subsequent copycat suicides or attempts among the general public in Asia, (2) understanding the factors associated with copycat suicides and (3) determining the positive impacts of the media reporting of suicides (e.g. increased help-seeking, coping). Method A systematic review and narrative synthesis of English and Chinese articles from 8 electronic databases (i.e. PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Ariti, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and OpenGrey) from January 2000 to May 2023 was conducted. Observational studies were included, and the data were analysed through narrative synthesis. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021281535). Results Among the 32 studies included (n=29 for evidence synthesis) in the review, there is good-quality evidence to show that copycat suicides and suicide attempts increase after media reports of a suicide, regardless of country, celebrity status, study design, type of media, mode of suicide or follow-up period. Females, younger age groups and those sharing similar characteristics as the deceased in publicised suicides (age, gender) were more susceptible to negative impact. Reporting of the mode of death of the deceased increased suicides by the same method among the public. Conclusion Media portrayals of suicide appear to have a negative impact on copycat suicides at the population level in Asia. Thus, in addition to tighter media control, healthcare systems, professional medical bodies and community outreach services should work collaboratively to promote early help-seeking in those with psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- P V Asharani
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | - Yen Sin Koh
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | | | - Yoke Boon Tan
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | | | - Benedict Lim
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | - Lorainne Tudor Car
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mythily Subramaniam
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Martínez V, Jiménez-Molina Á, Gerber MM. Social contagion, violence, and suicide among adolescents. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2023; 36:237-242. [PMID: 36762666 PMCID: PMC10090320 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Social Contagion is defined as the spread of behaviors, attitudes, and affect through crowds and other types of social aggregates from one member to another. Adolescents are prone to social contagion because they may be especially susceptible to peer influence and social media.In this article, we provide a brief review of the most recent findings on social contagion, violence, and suicide among adolescents. RECENT FINDINGS Recent evidence support social contagion in gun violence, bullying, cyberbullying, violent offending, and suicide, but is inconclusive on the role of violent video game exposure on aggressive behavior. SUMMARY The mechanisms underlying the contagion effect of violence and suicide are currently unclear. It has been argued that social learning, identification with significant others, and the normalization of specific norms play a role. All these mechanisms require understanding social contagion as a complex interaction between individual, relational and social factors. This is key if the social contagion perspective is to be used not only to investigate negative outcomes, but also as a framework for promoting prosocial attitudes and behaviors. Additionally, more research is needed on psychosocial interventions and public policies to minimize the potential spillover effect of violence and suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vania Martínez
- CEMERA, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago
- Millennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths (Imhay)
- Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP)
| | - Álvaro Jiménez-Molina
- Millennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths (Imhay)
- Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP)
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mónica M. Gerber
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
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Lee H, Rhee SJ, Kim MJ, Park CHK, Yang JH, Son K, Park JI, Ahn YM. Shifting attitudes toward suicide over time: A latent profile analysis using the Korea National Suicide Survey. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1124318. [PMID: 36937738 PMCID: PMC10014803 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1124318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction South Korea has a high suicide rate, and changes in sociodemographic factors can further increase the rate. This study aims to (1) classify participants using the Attitudes toward Suicide Scale (ATTS) through latent profile analysis (LPA), (2) identify and compare the associations between sociodemographic factors with the ATTS in two survey years (2013, 2018), and (3) determine the moderating effect of survey year. Methods Six sub-factors of the ATTS were used for LPA with a total of 2,973 participants. Sociodemographic characteristics were compared between groups, and multinomial logistic regression was conducted for each survey year. A moderation analysis was conducted with the survey year as moderator. Results LPA identified three groups of attitudes toward suicide: incomprehensible (10.3%), mixed (52.8%), and permissive (36.9%). The proportion of permissive attitudes increased from 2013 (32.3%) to 2018 (41.7%). Participants reporting suicidal behavior were more likely to be in the mixed and permissive groups than the incomprehensible group in both years. People reporting no religious beliefs were associated with the permissive group in the two survey years. The influence of education and income levels on groups differed by survey year. Discussion There were significant changes between 2013 and 2018 in attitudes toward suicide in the Korean population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunju Lee
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Jin Rhee
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ji Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Jeong Hun Yang
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyunghoon Son
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Ik Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Min Ahn
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- *Correspondence: Yong Min Ahn
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Thornicroft G, Sunkel C, Alikhon Aliev A, Baker S, Brohan E, El Chammay R, Davies K, Demissie M, Duncan J, Fekadu W, Gronholm PC, Guerrero Z, Gurung D, Habtamu K, Hanlon C, Heim E, Henderson C, Hijazi Z, Hoffman C, Hosny N, Huang FX, Kline S, Kohrt BA, Lempp H, Li J, London E, Ma N, Mak WWS, Makhmud A, Maulik PK, Milenova M, Morales Cano G, Ouali U, Parry S, Rangaswamy T, Rüsch N, Sabri T, Sartorius N, Schulze M, Stuart H, Taylor Salisbury T, Vera San Juan N, Votruba N, Winkler P. The Lancet Commission on ending stigma and discrimination in mental health. Lancet 2022; 400:1438-1480. [PMID: 36223799 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)01470-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Graham Thornicroft
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK; Centre for Implementation Science, King's College London, London UK.
| | | | - Akmal Alikhon Aliev
- National Institute of Mental Health (Czechia), WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Mental Health Research and Service Development, Klecany, Czechia
| | - Sue Baker
- Mind international, London, UK; Changing Minds Globally, London, UK
| | - Elaine Brohan
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK
| | | | - Kelly Davies
- Centre for Implementation Science, King's College London, London UK
| | - Mekdes Demissie
- College of Health Sciences and Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Haramaya University, Ethiopia; Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Studies for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
| | | | - Wubalem Fekadu
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Petra C Gronholm
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK; Centre for Implementation Science, King's College London, London UK
| | - Zoe Guerrero
- National Institute of Mental Health (Czechia), WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Mental Health Research and Service Development, Klecany, Czechia
| | - Dristy Gurung
- Centre for Implementation Science, King's College London, London UK; Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO), Kathmandu Nepal
| | - Kassahun Habtamu
- Addis Ababa University, School of Psychology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Charlotte Hanlon
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK; WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Training, King's College London, London UK; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eva Heim
- Institut de Psychologie, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claire Henderson
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK
| | | | | | - Nadine Hosny
- Institut de Psychologie, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Brandon A Kohrt
- Division of Global Mental Health, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Heidi Lempp
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Academic Department of Rheumatology, King's College London, London UK
| | - Jie Li
- Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Ning Ma
- Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Winnie W S Mak
- Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Akerke Makhmud
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK; Centre for Implementation Science, King's College London, London UK
| | - Pallab K Maulik
- George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi, India; University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maria Milenova
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK; Centre for Implementation Science, King's College London, London UK
| | | | - Uta Ouali
- Razi Hospital and El Manar Medical School, University of Tunis, La Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Sarah Parry
- South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Nicolas Rüsch
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University and BKH Günzburg, Ulm, Germany; Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg, Günzburg, Germany
| | - Taha Sabri
- Taskeen Health Initiative, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Norman Sartorius
- Association for the Improvement of Mental health Programs, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Tatiana Taylor Salisbury
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK
| | - Norha Vera San Juan
- Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London UK
| | - Nicole Votruba
- and Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Petr Winkler
- National Institute of Mental Health (Czechia), WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Mental Health Research and Service Development, Klecany, Czechia
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