Suicide by tradition .. Why should we be cautious in spreading suicides?

"In the end, one needs more courage to keep it alive, rather than killing itself."

Albert Camus.

In 1774, Goethe's novel The Sorrows of Young Werther was published by Goethe, the first of his works. It was in the form of a memoir telling the story of the unhappy, emotional and desperate young Werther in love with his friend's wife Charlotte. It is a simulation of the reality of the writer Goethe who was a prisoner of love for Charlotte Buff, who was then engaged to his friend. In this work, which can be considered a biography of the writer, the hero shoots himself after an ominous love. Soon after the novel was published, there were numerous reports of young people using the same method of suicide, which led to the banning of the book in several places. Hence the term "Werther Effect", used in the technical literature to codify counterfeit suicides. (1)

According to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States, suicide is the 10th most common cause of death. In the same report, he was advised to take suicide statements seriously. When someone tells you that you want to end his life, you should take the matter seriously and without lightly, because his words may hide a real desire to die. But there are also fears that the media will influence suicide rates, in a phenomenon called "suicide simulation" that makes young people imitate the suicide because of the intensity of details and scenes of suicide. What causes this phenomenon? Is it true or just a term used in "media" to intimidate without ground?

Media and the impact of Verter .. Legend or reality?

"Everything affects everything"

Jay Asher.

In social sciences and medicine, the term Werther-effect is synonymous with counterfeit effects that promote suicidal behavior due to the media. In Goethe's novel, the contemporary recipient can find many striking details, one of which is in the detailed description of Werter's mental state, suggesting that suicide plays a role in the novel long before suicide finally occurs. Although there are numerous reports of the effects of tradition associated with Werther's influence on literary works, the epidemiological extent of this phenomenon cannot be determined. Moreover, current sociological research into the impact of suicide stories on suicidal behavior cannot completely remove the remaining lack of evidence to prove the phenomenon.

However, many studies support the hypothesis that some aspects of the quality of media reporting can lead to short-term increases in suicides. In Austria, “Media Guidelines for Suicide Reporting” have been issued to the media since 1987 as a preventive experiment against suicide. Since then, the objectives of the experiment have been to reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts in the Vienna Metro and to reduce the total number of suicides. After the introduction of media guidelines, the number of suicides and suicide attempts decreased to more than 80% within 6 months. Since 1991, suicides - as well as suicide attempts - have decreased significantly and slowly. In conjunction with the increase in passenger numbers in the Vienna metro, which almost doubled, there has been a total decline in suicide numbers in Vienna (-40%) and Austria (-33%) since mid-1987. This increases the reasonableness of the Werther Effect hypothesis and the need for guidance that Presented to the media that in turn influence the spread of suicidal behavior. (3)

Why imitate suicide?

"It's not worth bothering to kill yourself, because you always kill yourself too late"

Emil Cioran.

A few days ago, a student of the Faculty of Engineering in Egypt, "Nader," committed suicide jumped from the top of the Cairo Tower, and spread a message attributed to him that after a five-year study at the college decided to commit suicide because of the pressures suffered by the study and its difficult requirements, in addition to suffering with Depression, loneliness and some other problems. His suicide and leap from the top of the tower spread widely among the social media spread across the Arab world, which in turn led to the exchange of views by a rare act, and what is right, is it justified, in addition to the controversy of "halal and haram". On the other side of the chaos of comments, opinions and quick judgments, there have been numerous demands that the passage not be seen or published from the ground up, for fear of "Werther's effect" or "imitating suicide".

In an episode of The Doctors, Dr. Philip C. McGraw discusses the real impact of suicide clips, and how they drive some young people with the same degree of depression or frustration that the suicide bomber has experienced as suicide and salvation. He draws attention to a very important point, saying that the sympathy shown by social media pioneers with the suicide increases the desire of the "willing to commit suicide" to commit suicide, because his basic need is sympathy, listening to him and his demands. He says that the media must adhere to several ethical principles for reporting suicide, in a way that does not worsen or double the number of victims. This is a responsibility not only for the media, but for the media alone in the past. Now, social networking sites have a greater responsibility to disseminate and expand access to information, scene, or news. He concludes: Suicides think that the world would be better without them, and this is absolutely wrong, you must seek help before you lose hope!

Celebrity Suicide Effect

"The suicide believes that his suicide stops the pain, but all he does is pass the pain on to those who leave them behind."

(Janet Walls)

The breadth of news circulation, as well as the fame of the suicide, increases the likelihood that it will be imitated by the public. A US study4 showed a 10% increase in suicide rates just four months after actor Robin Williams committed suicide. This is the first study to investigate the consequences of celebrity suicide in the digital age. An increase in suicides was observed among men (1398 excess suicides) and persons aged 30 to 44 (577 excess suicides). The researchers also found a higher-than-expected number of suicides involving suffocation - including hanging - in the months following Williams' death: a 32% increase in the way the comedian himself used. In comparison, other suicide methods increased by only 3%.

Dr. Fink, who is in charge of the study, said media reports - some describing how Williams himself hanged - may have provided "the ability for a high-risk segment of the US population, middle-aged and desperate men, to move from suicidal thinking to trying." ". (5) (6)

Although he cannot say with certainty that Williams' death has inspired counterfeit suicides, the dramatic rise in suicides along with repeated media reports of the actor's death suggest a link, the study's lead author Dr. Fink said. The study is a lot of what we already know about the impact of our environment on our behaviors in general and suicide in particular, where policymakers and researchers need to better understand the role traditional and social media plays in suicide behaviors, to better understand how these deaths are mitigated. '' (7)

Do you play a role in all these scenarios?

"Keep going through open windows"

John Irving.

Yes, as a short answer. If you are a pioneer of social networking sites, you certainly play - and others - an active role in the dissemination of clips or news, or perhaps give your opinion, or make judgments. But as a precautionary behavior, it is advisable not to trade passages that can affect their receiver, even if it does not affect you personally. Looking at it from another angle in which you play a role that cannot be marginalized, being with someone who shows signs of wanting to commit suicide or trying!

- Don't leave him alone.

-Listen to him.

- Do not underestimate the topic or try to ridicule it.

- Do not attack or rebuke him.

- ask for help.

- If it's your friend, tell his family.

It is undeniable that social media sites sometimes excel at spreading news and updates faster than media organizations themselves or news agencies. Therefore, as an extension of this fact, you are a carrier of the news responsible for its consequences, and if you are not aware of the seriousness of its consequences, you publish a "problem", not news.