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Arafat SMY, Jalil SB, Alam MS, Sultana N, Ahmed MIU, Abedin MM, Armstrong G. Suicide in Bangla Movie and Drama: A Content Analysis. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2022:302228221148286. [PMID: 36541683 DOI: 10.1177/00302228221148286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to assess how suicidality has been depicted in Bangla movies and dramas. We conducted a search on YouTube by using search terms to identify movies and dramas with suicidal scripts. The search was performed between February and May 2022 resulting in 71 items consisting of 35 Bangla movies and 36 Bangla dramas. We scrutinized the contents of movies and dramas against our pre-designed instrument and we assessed their quality against World Health Organization guidelines. Among the 71 suicidal behaviors, 46.5% were suicides, 72% of the suicidal behavior was noted in young adults, 63.9% were unmarried, and 69% attempts were found in prominent characters. Hanging was found as the most prominent method (25.4%) and premarital and extramarital affairs and sexual harassment were the most prominent risk factors (60.6%). The potentially harmful characteristics were present in almost all events whereas potentially helpful contents were mentioned very minimally.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Yasir Arafat
- Department of Psychiatry, Enam Medical College and Hospital, Savar, Bangladesh
| | - Sumaiya B Jalil
- Department of Psychiatry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Shamiul Alam
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Naznin Sultana
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Gregory Armstrong
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
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Durante SB. The Historical Significance of Titicut Follies in Psychiatric Treatment: An Anti-Censorship Perspective. Psychol Rep 2022; 126:1130-1142. [PMID: 35100520 PMCID: PMC10173351 DOI: 10.1177/00332941211061080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Works of art and information judged as obscene can be censored or banned. This brief review evaluates the costs and benefits of censorship and the banning of artwork and information. In the history of psychology, Frederick Wiseman's film Titicut Follies epitomizes the disadvantages of concealing art content. Despite protecting the privacy of patients, the ban of Titicut Follies delayed the reform of psychiatric treatment practices and hospitals. The decision to censor or ban artistic and scientific information can result in the loss of knowledge and potential improvements to social, political, and economic institution practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore B Durante
- Department of Educational Psychology, 3158University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Forensic Psychiatry, Alberta Hospital Edmonton, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Nesi J, Johnson SE, Altemus M, Thibeau HM, Hunt J, Wolff JC. 13 Reasons Why: Perceptions and Correlates of Media Influence in Psychiatrically Hospitalized Adolescents. Arch Suicide Res 2022; 26:313-324. [PMID: 32589861 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2020.1779155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (13RW) has sparked controversy due to graphic depictions of youth suicide, bullying, and sexual assault. However, further research is needed examining experiences of the show among youth with psychiatric illness. This exploratory, mixed-methods study examines adolescents' perceptions of 13RW and associations among viewership, suicide-related media influence processes, and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs). METHOD Participants were 242 adolescents hospitalized in a psychiatric inpatient facility; 60.7% female, 30.2% male, 9.1% other genders; ages 11 to 18; and 74.3% White, 7.5% Black, and 21.8% Hispanic. Participants completed measures of series viewership, media message processing, and SITBs. Participants who watched completed open-ended questions regarding beliefs and opinions about the series. RESULTS In all, 50.4% of participants watched 13RW, with girls (63.3%) more likely to have watched than boys (26.0%). More than half (55.9%) of youth expressed negative reactions to the show, while approximately one-third (33.8%) expressed positive reactions. Having watched the series was associated with greater likelihood of past-year non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), but not with suicidal ideation or past-year suicide attempts. Youth's interpretation of media messages in 13RW, including greater identification with and perceived likeability of the main character, were associated with suicidal ideation and past-year NSSI. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest high rates of 13RW viewership among psychiatrically hospitalized youth, particularly girls, and provide insight into factors that may affect youths' vulnerability to suicide-related media effects.
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Walling MA. Suicide Contagion. CURRENT TRAUMA REPORTS 2021; 7:103-114. [PMID: 34931156 PMCID: PMC8674834 DOI: 10.1007/s40719-021-00219-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Suicide is a serious healthcare concern worldwide. In the USA, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death prior to 2020 when it was displaced as a result of the death toll from COVID-19. RECENT FINDINGS Suicide behavior is the result of the interaction between the individual's predisposing factors and precipitating factors. A recognized precipitating factor is the knowledge of the suicidal act of another, termed suicide contagion. Another precipitating factor is the physiological impact of an acute inflammatory response to disease, for example that seen in patients with COVID-19. SUMMARY Risk identification of persons at increased risk for suicidal actions is an essential goal in medical care so that protective measures can be employed to prevent suicide.
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Till B, Tran US, Niederkrotenthaler T. The Impact of Educative News Articles about Suicide Prevention: A Randomized Controlled Trial. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2021; 36:2022-2029. [PMID: 32867541 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2020.1813953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Media stories featuring stories of personal experiences of coping with suicidal ideation have been shown to decrease suicide risk, but it is unclear whether more impersonal awareness materials have similar effects. This study aimed to test the impact of impersonal educative news articles featuring interviews with suicide prevention experts. Because the impact of news articles may be determined by the articles' pull quotes and headlines, we also aimed to compare the impact of two versions of the same suicide prevention news article. One version featured headlines and pull quotes highlighting the message that suicide is preventable, whereas the other version focused on the message that suicide is prevalent. In a web-based randomized controlled trial, n = 425 participants either read a news article featuring a prevention expert with one of the above versions of the same text or an article unrelated to suicide. Data on suicidal ideation, stigmatizing attitudes toward suicidal individuals, policy attitudes toward suicide prevention, help-seeking intentions, and assumptions on the prevalence of suicide-related behavior were measured with questionnaires. The assumed prevalence of suicide in the population was greater in both intervention groups than in the control group, but the articles did not have an impact on other outcomes, and there were no differences for variations in headlines and pull quotes. Impersonal suicide prevention articles appear safe to use and do not have an impact on suicide risk factors in general population samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Till
- Unit Suicide Research and Mental Health Promotion, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna
- Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research
| | - Ulrich S Tran
- Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Vienna
| | - Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- Unit Suicide Research and Mental Health Promotion, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna
- Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research
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Posselt M, McIntyre H, Procter N. The impact of screen media portrayals of suicide on viewers: A rapid review of the evidence. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2021; 29:28-41. [PMID: 32716609 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This rapid review aimed to review recent published literature and describe the current evidence regarding the impact, on viewers, of portrayals of suicide in screen/ moving-image fiction and non-fiction media, such as television/web series, films and documentaries. We searched various databases for research conducted within the past decade (2009-2019). A total of 16 articles were eligible for inclusion. The literature reported varying impacts of portrayals of suicide through moving-image media such as increased suicidal ideation and behaviour, as well as positive impacts such as increased help-seeking behaviour. While there is limited evidence which focuses specifically on the impact of moving-image media, the studies included in this review highlight concerning trends regarding the impact of media portraying deaths by suicide on subsequent suicidality. However, positive impacts on suicide awareness, literacy and help-seeking behaviour were also identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Posselt
- Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research Group, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Heather McIntyre
- Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research Group, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nicholas Procter
- Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research Group, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Niederkrotenthaler T, Till B. Effects of awareness material featuring individuals with experience of depression and suicidal thoughts on an audience with depressive symptoms: Randomized controlled trial. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2020; 66:101515. [PMID: 31610437 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.101515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Suicide prevention plans support individuals with personal experience of mental disorders and suicidality to provide their narratives of coping in the media. The evidence how such portrayals impact on individuals with similar symptoms is limited and there are concerns about unwanted side effects. METHODS This was a double-blinded randomized controlled online trial conducted from August to November 2018. N = 158 young adults aged 18-24 with current depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts were randomized to watch a short film featuring a young individual with personal experience of depression and suicidality (n = 81), or a thematically unrelated control film (n = 77) with similar stylistic elements. Questionnaire data were collected before and immediately after exposure and analysed with ANOVA. The primary outcome was suicidal ideation; secondary outcomes were depressed mood and help-seeking intentions. We also tested the moderating effects of the degree of depressive symptoms on the effects. RESULTS Depressed mood was significantly lower, with small-to medium effect size, in the intervention group compared to the control group (F(1,111) = 4.13, P < .05, ηp2 = .036). There was no effect on suicidal ideation or help-seeking intentions in the total sample. Participants screening positive for moderately severe depression or higher experienced an increase in suicidal ideation in the control group. LIMITATIONS Self-reported variables in an online setting. CONCLUSIONS Videos featuring personal experience of coping with depression appear safe for young individuals with similar or higher symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation on the short run, and might have some benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION German Clinical Trial Registry, DRKS00015095 (registration date: 2018-07-16).
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- Unit Suicide Research & Mental Health Promotion, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Benedikt Till
- Unit Suicide Research & Mental Health Promotion, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
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Flayelle M, Maurage P, Karila L, Vögele C, Billieux J. Overcoming the unitary exploration of binge-watching: A cluster analytical approach. J Behav Addict 2019; 8:586-602. [PMID: 31537085 PMCID: PMC7044630 DOI: 10.1556/2006.8.2019.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Binge-watching (i.e., watching multiple episodes of a TV series in one session) has recently become standard practice among TV series viewers; this expansion generates concerns regarding the potential negative outcomes associated with this habit. However, the investigation of its psychological correlates remains fragmentary, with few initial studies a priori conceptualizing this behavior as a new addictive disorder. This study explored these psychological correlates using cluster analysis of binge-watching behavior based on three key psychological factors: motivations, impulsivity, and emotional reactivity. METHODS An online survey was completed by 4,039 TV series viewers. Data were analyzed using hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses, the validity of the clusters being finally determined through mutual comparisons with a selection of external correlates. RESULTS Four clusters were identified: recreational TV series viewers (presenting low involvement in binge-watching), regulated binge-watchers (moderately involved), avid binge-watchers (presenting elevated but non-problematic involvement), and unregulated binge-watchers (presenting potentially problematic involvement associated with negative outcomes). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS This study underlines the heterogeneous and multidetermined nature of binge-watching. Our findings suggest that high engagement in binge-watching is distinct from problematic binge-watching, thus reinforcing the notion that conceptualizing binge-watching as an addictive disorder is of low relevance and might actually lead to the overpathologization of this highly popular leisure activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maèva Flayelle
- Addictive and Compulsive Behaviours Lab (ACB-Lab), Institute for Health and Behaviour, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg,Corresponding authors: Maèva Flayelle; Addictive and Compulsive Behaviours Lab (ACB-Lab), Institute for Health and Behaviour, Université du Luxembourg, Maison des Sciences Humaines, 11, Porte des Sciences, L-4366, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Phone: +352 46 66 44 5332; Fax: +352 46 66 44 39207; E-mail: ; Joël Billieux; Addictive and Compulsive Behaviours Lab (ACB-Lab), Institute for Health and Behaviour, Université du Luxembourg, Maison des Sciences Humaines, 11, Porte des Sciences, L-4366, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Phone: +352 46 66 44 9207; Fax: +352 46 66 44 39207; E-mail:
| | - Pierre Maurage
- Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology (LEP), Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Laurent Karila
- Hôpital Universitaire Paul Brousse, Service d’addictologie, Université Paris Saclay, Equipe d’Accueil Université Paris Sud PSYCOMADD, Villejuif, France
| | - Claus Vögele
- Clinical Psychophysiology Laboratory (CLIPSLAB), Institute for Health and Behaviour, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Joël Billieux
- Addictive and Compulsive Behaviours Lab (ACB-Lab), Institute for Health and Behaviour, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg,Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,Corresponding authors: Maèva Flayelle; Addictive and Compulsive Behaviours Lab (ACB-Lab), Institute for Health and Behaviour, Université du Luxembourg, Maison des Sciences Humaines, 11, Porte des Sciences, L-4366, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Phone: +352 46 66 44 5332; Fax: +352 46 66 44 39207; E-mail: ; Joël Billieux; Addictive and Compulsive Behaviours Lab (ACB-Lab), Institute for Health and Behaviour, Université du Luxembourg, Maison des Sciences Humaines, 11, Porte des Sciences, L-4366, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Phone: +352 46 66 44 9207; Fax: +352 46 66 44 39207; E-mail:
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Notredame CE, Grandgenèvre P, Vaiva G, Séguin M. At least one more reason why. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2018; 27:259-260. [PMID: 28744718 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-017-1033-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles-Edouard Notredame
- Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine Department, Hôpital Fontan, CHU Lille, 2 Rue André Verhaeghe, 59000, Lille, France. .,SCALab Laboratory, CNRS, UMR 9193, Université de Lille, 1 Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille Cedex, France. .,McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Verdun, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.
| | - Pierre Grandgenèvre
- Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine Department, Hôpital Fontan, CHU Lille, 2 Rue André Verhaeghe, 59000, Lille, France.,SCALab Laboratory, CNRS, UMR 9193, Université de Lille, 1 Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Guillaume Vaiva
- Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine Department, Hôpital Fontan, CHU Lille, 2 Rue André Verhaeghe, 59000, Lille, France.,SCALab Laboratory, CNRS, UMR 9193, Université de Lille, 1 Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Monique Séguin
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Verdun, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, 283, Boulevard Alexandre-Taché, Gatineau, QC, J9A 1L8, Canada
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Till B, Tran US, Voracek M, Niederkrotenthaler T. Beneficial and harmful effects of educative suicide prevention websites: randomised controlled trial exploring Papageno v. Werther effects. Br J Psychiatry 2017; 211:109-115. [PMID: 28522433 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.115.177394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundSuicide prevention organisations frequently use websites to educate the public, but evaluations of these websites are lacking.AimsTo examine the effects of educative websites and the moderating effect of participant vulnerability.MethodA total of 161 adults were randomised to either view an educative website on suicide prevention or an unrelated website in a single-blinded randomised controlled trial (trial registration with the American Economic Association's registry: RCT-ID: 000924). The primary outcome was suicidal ideation; secondary outcomes were mood, suicide-prevention-related knowledge and attitudes towards suicide/seeking professional help. Data were collected using questionnaires before (T1), immediately after exposure (T2), and 1 week after exposure (T3) and analysed using linear mixed models.ResultsNo significant intervention effect was identified for the entire intervention group with regard to suicidal ideation, but a significant and sustained increase in suicide-prevention-related knowledge (T3vT1P < 0.001, d = 1.12, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.28) and a non-sustained worsening of mood (P < 0.001, T2vT1, d = -0.59, -0.75 to -0.43) were observed. Participants with increased vulnerability experienced a partially sustained reduction of suicidal ideation (T3vT1, P <0.001, d = -0.34, -0.50 to -0.19).ConclusionsEducative professional suicide prevention websites appeared to increase suicide-prevention-related knowledge, and among vulnerable individuals website exposure may be associated with a reduction of suicidal ideation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Till
- Benedikt Till, DSc, PD, Suicide Research Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna and wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna, Austria; Ulrich S. Tran, DSc, PD, Martin Voracek, DSc, DMSc, PhD, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna and Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna; Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, MD, PhD, MMSc, Suicide Research Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna and Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich S Tran
- Benedikt Till, DSc, PD, Suicide Research Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna and wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna, Austria; Ulrich S. Tran, DSc, PD, Martin Voracek, DSc, DMSc, PhD, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna and Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna; Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, MD, PhD, MMSc, Suicide Research Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna and Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Voracek
- Benedikt Till, DSc, PD, Suicide Research Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna and wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna, Austria; Ulrich S. Tran, DSc, PD, Martin Voracek, DSc, DMSc, PhD, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna and Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna; Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, MD, PhD, MMSc, Suicide Research Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna and Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- Benedikt Till, DSc, PD, Suicide Research Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna and wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna, Austria; Ulrich S. Tran, DSc, PD, Martin Voracek, DSc, DMSc, PhD, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna and Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna; Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, MD, PhD, MMSc, Suicide Research Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna and Wiener Werkstaette for Suicide Research, Vienna, Austria
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Arendt F, Till B, Niederkrotenthaler T. Effects of Suicide Awareness Material on Implicit Suicide Cognition: A Laboratory Experiment. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2015; 31:718-726. [PMID: 26529239 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2014.993495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In spite of the increasing adoption of suicide awareness campaigns to prevent suicide, little is known about the effective construction of awareness messages used and on their impact on suicidal cognition. We hypothesized that media reporting on an individual overcoming a suicidal crisis increases the automatic association between "life" and self. University students (N = 112) were randomly allocated to one of three groups in a laboratory experiment. Participants allocated to treatment group 1 or group 2 read awareness material about a person coping with suicidal ideation by getting professional help. The only difference between the two groups was the amount of social similarity (low vs. high) between the protagonist and the participants. The control group read an article unrelated to suicide. Awareness material increased implicit cognition in terms of a strengthening of self-life associations. This effect was restricted to participants scoring low on wishful identification with the suicidal protagonist. This finding suggests that only individuals who do not wishfully identify with a protagonist going through difficult life circumstances benefit from the awareness material in terms of suicidal cognition. These findings provide a rich basis for further research and have potentially high relevance to the construction of suicide-awareness messages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Arendt
- a Department of Communication Science and Media Research , University of Munich
| | - Benedikt Till
- b Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health , Medical University of Vienna
| | - Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- b Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health , Medical University of Vienna
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Niederkrotenthaler T, Arendt F, Till B. Predicting Intentions to Read Suicide Awareness Stories. CRISIS 2015; 36:399-406. [DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. Background: Research on factors that influence the intention to read suicide awareness material is lacking. Aims: To identify how social and state similarities between the featured protagonist of a suicide awareness story and the audience impact on the intent to read similar stories. Method: Laboratory experiment with n = 104 students. Participants were randomly assigned to study groups. In the first group, the role model provided his personal story of crisis and was a student. In the second group, the content was identical but the model was socially dissimilar. The third group read about a topic unrelated to suicide. Depression, identification, and exposure intent were measured after the experiment. Conditional process analysis was carried out. Results: In the group featuring a once-suicidal role model with high social similarity, depression in the audience increased the intention to read similar material in the future via identification with the role model; 82% of individuals wanted to read similar material in the future, but only 50% wanted to do so in the group featuring a dissimilar person. Conclusion: Exposure intention increases via identification when role model and audience characteristics align regarding social traits and the experience of depression. These factors are relevant when developing campaigns targeting individuals with stories of recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Public Health, Institute of Social Medicine, Suicide Research Unit, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Arendt
- Department of Communication Science and Media Research, University of Munich (LMU), Germany
| | - Benedikt Till
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Public Health, Institute of Social Medicine, Suicide Research Unit, Vienna, Austria
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Till B, Strauss M, Sonneck G, Niederkrotenthaler T. Determining the effects of films with suicidal content: a laboratory experiment. Br J Psychiatry 2015; 207:72-8. [PMID: 25906792 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.152827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Media stories on suicide can increase suicidal ideation, but little is known about variations in media effects with regard to audience vulnerability and story contents. AIMS We investigated the impact of three drama films with suicidal content that varied with regard to the final outcome (suicide completion, mastery of crisis and death by natural causes) and tested the moderating effect of baseline suicidality of the participants on the effects. METHOD Within a laboratory setting, we randomly assigned 95 adults to three film groups. We used questionnaires to analyse the effects of the films on mood, depression, life satisfaction, self-worth, assumed benevolence of the world and suicidality, as well as identification with the protagonist. We stratified the sample into participants with suicidal tendencies above and below the sample median. RESULTS The film that ended with the protagonist's suicide led to a deterioration of mood particularly in individuals with baseline suicidality below the median, who also experienced an increase in self-worth. Participants with stronger suicidal tendencies experienced a rise in suicidality that depended on their level of identification with the protagonist. The film featuring the main character positively coping with his crisis increased life satisfaction particularly among participants with higher suicidal tendencies. CONCLUSIONS The effects of suicide-related media material seem to vary with individual vulnerability and with type of media portrayal. Individuals with lower vulnerability experience more emotional reactions when exposed to a film culminating in suicide, but individuals with higher vulnerability experience a rise in suicidal tendencies particularly if they identify with the protagonist who died by suicide. In contrast, portrayals of individual mastery of crisis may have beneficial effects in more vulnerable individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Till
- Benedikt Till, DSc, Markus Strauss, BSc, Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Gernot Sonneck, MD, Crisis Intervention Center and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Social Psychiatry, Vienna, Austria; Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, MD, PhD, MMSc, Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Strauss
- Benedikt Till, DSc, Markus Strauss, BSc, Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Gernot Sonneck, MD, Crisis Intervention Center and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Social Psychiatry, Vienna, Austria; Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, MD, PhD, MMSc, Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Gernot Sonneck
- Benedikt Till, DSc, Markus Strauss, BSc, Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Gernot Sonneck, MD, Crisis Intervention Center and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Social Psychiatry, Vienna, Austria; Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, MD, PhD, MMSc, Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- Benedikt Till, DSc, Markus Strauss, BSc, Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Gernot Sonneck, MD, Crisis Intervention Center and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Social Psychiatry, Vienna, Austria; Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, MD, PhD, MMSc, Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
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14
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Till B, Tran US, Voracek M, Sonneck G, Niederkrotenthaler T. Associations between film preferences and risk factors for suicide: an online survey. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102293. [PMID: 25028966 PMCID: PMC4100813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies indicate that exposure to suicide in movies is linked to subsequent imitative suicidal behavior, so-called copycat suicides, but little is currently known about whether the link between exposure to suicidal movies and suicidality is reflected in individual film preferences. 943 individuals participated in an online survey. We assessed associations between preferred film genres as well as individual exposure to and rating of 50 pre-selected films (including 25 featuring a suicide) with suicidal ideation, hopelessness, depression, life satisfaction, and psychoticism. Multiple regression analyses showed that preferences for film noir movies and milieu dramas were associated with higher scores on suicidal ideation, depression and psychoticism, and low scores on life satisfaction. Furthermore, preferences for thrillers and horror movies as well as preferences for tragicomedies, tragedies and melodramas were associated with higher scores of some of the suicide risk factors. There was also a dose-response relationship between positive rating of suicide films and higher life satisfaction. Due to the cross-sectional design of the study causality cannot be assessed. Individual film genre preferences seem to reflect risk factors of suicide, with film genres focusing on sad contents being preferred by individuals with higher scores on suicide risk factors. However, suicide movies are more enjoyed by viewers with higher life satisfaction, which may reflect a better ability to cope with such content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Till
- Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Ulrich S. Tran
- Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Voracek
- Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, School of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Georg Elias Müller Department of Psychology, Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gernot Sonneck
- Crisis Intervention Center and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Social Psychiatry, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- Suicide Research Unit, Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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15
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Stack S, Kral M, Borowski T. Exposure to Suicide Movies and Suicide Attempts: A Research Note. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/00380237.2014.856707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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16
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Radovic S, Hasking P. The Relationship Between Portrayals of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behavior. CRISIS 2013; 34:324-34. [DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: The high prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among young people has prompted research into why this may be a chosen coping strategy. One possibility is that the behavior is modeled from media depictions. Aims: The study examined the relationship between viewing films featuring NSSI and an individuals’ knowledge, attitudes toward, and engagement in NSSI. Method: 317 individuals (18–30 years) completed an online survey measuring these key variables. Results: Exposure to NSSI in film was related to history of NSSI; an even stronger relationship emerged when individuals identified with the character. Films increase knowledge and empathy toward those engaging NSSI, but they may also serve to trigger NSSI. Conclusions: Portrayal of NSSI in film could be designed to minimize imitation and to consider the potential to increase knowledge of NSSI among those with little exposure to the behavior. However, because films may also trigger NSSI, further work is needed to determine under what circumstances, and for which individuals, films exert a protective or harmful effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Radovic
- School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Penelope Hasking
- School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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17
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Till B, Vitouch P, Herberth A, Sonneck G, Niederkrotenthaler T. Personal suicidality in reception and identification with suicidal film characters. DEATH STUDIES 2013; 37:383-392. [PMID: 24520893 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2012.673531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The authors investigated the impact of suicidality on identity work during film exposure. Adults with low suicidality (n = 150) watched either It's My Party or The Fire Within, censored versions of these films not depicting the suicide, or the control film that concluded with a non-suicidal death. Baseline suicidality was measured with questionnaires before the movie. Identity work and identification with the protagonist were measured after the movie. Suicidality was directly associated with identity work during film dramas depicting suicide methods. The reception of suicide-related media content seems to partially depend on personal suicidality. Potential implications for suicide prevention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Till
- Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Peter Vitouch
- Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arno Herberth
- Department of German Language. and Literature, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gernot Sonneck
- Department of Medical Psychology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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18
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Ganz D, Sher L. Adolescent suicide in New York City: plenty of room for new research. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2011; 24:99-104. [PMID: 22909918 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh.2012.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Accepted: 01/05/2011] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The act of adolescent suicide continues to threaten adolescent populations in New York City (NYC). Consistent positive correlations have been found between a plethora of risk factors present in NYC adolescent populations and suicidal ideations and behaviors. Psychiatric conditions that may contribute to the rate of adolescent suicide in NYC include depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and schizophrenia. Unique factors that have been found to contribute to increased rates of completed suicides in NYC include the phenomena of railway suicides and suicide tourism. Homelessness and income inequality in NYC have also been consistently correlated with increased suicidality; with one study finding suicide attempts reported by a significant percentage of new admissions to homeless shelters. Adolescent populations in NYC that have been identified as particularly vulnerable to suicidality include runaway youth, homosexual youth, victimized adolescents and adolescents with a recent history of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Longitudinal studies in NYC have found that physical and sexual abuse is highly predictive of adolescent suicidality, with variations by ethnic group. Currently, there is a disturbing lack of sufficient research on adolescent suicide in NYC, specifically regarding causal factors, the effects of television on suicide, comorbid suicidality and drug abuse, and cultural factors contributing to suicide. This dearth of literature may be related to the ethical problems inherent in suicide research, self reports and/or post mortem analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Ganz
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA.
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19
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Pouliot L, Mishara BL, Labelle R. The Werther effect reconsidered in light of psychological vulnerabilities: results of a pilot study. J Affect Disord 2011; 134:488-96. [PMID: 21621270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2011] [Accepted: 04/27/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Findings from three decades of epidemiological studies suggest that media diffusion of stories about suicide is related to increases in suicidal behaviours in the population exposed to the media reports. However, we still know little about the psychological processes and personal vulnerabilities that prompt some people to engage in suicidal behaviours after exposure to media presentations of suicides. This cross-sectional study explored the possible impact of exposure to film suicide in normal young people. METHODS Undergraduates from a university (mean age 23 years) completed a questionnaire on exposure to suicide portrayal in fictional films, in which assessment of negative emotional and cognitive reactions resulting from exposure, as well as emotional reactivity, dissociation, thought suppression, and suicidal tendencies were made. RESULTS Of the 101 participants, 70% reported being distressed by the portrayal of a suicide in a fictional film. Among those, 33% stated they felt distressed about the portrayal for several days to several weeks. The majority of the affected participants (71%) indicated having been mentally preoccupied for some time by the portrayal and experienced intrusive memories (68%). Emotional reactivity and dissociation tendencies were significant predictors of the negative reactions to the suicide film they viewed. Participants who reported that the idea had crossed their mind to imitate the suicidal protagonist in the film were 3.45 times more likely to be suicidal and tended to present higher dissociation and thought suppression propensities compared to those who did not report these thoughts. LIMITATIONS The results showing possible influences of suicide portrayal in fictional film on suicide related cognitions were based on a survey methodology. CONCLUSION Results suggest that fictional suicide portrayals in the media may have a deleterious impact on viewers, and such impacts do not appear to be limited to people having a clinical profile of mental disorders, as previously assumed by researchers in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Pouliot
- Center for Research and Intervention on Suicide and Euthanasia, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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