In the four years since actor Robin Williams’ death by suicide in August 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disclosed that there had been a 10 percent increase in similar deaths in the U.S., compared with past data from the same period. Similar high-profile suicide deaths happened in 2018 when fashion designer Kate Spade and famed chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain took their lives three days apart on June 5th and 8th.

1. On Suicide and Mass Media:
The Association of Suicide
Ideation and Media Reporting
The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Health
(888) 745-3372
5 Sylvan Road South, Westport, Connecticut 06880

2. In the four years since actor Robin Williams’ death by suicide in August 2014, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) disclosed that there had been a 10 percent increase in similar deaths in
the U.S., compared with past data from the same period. Similar high-profile suicide deaths
happened in 2018 when fashion designer Kate Spade and famed chef and TV personality Anthony
Bourdain took their lives three days apart on June 5th and 8th.
Following the huge media coverage of these high-profile deaths, several researchers conducted
studies to identify the possible link between media reporting and a spike in suicide deaths.
Responsible Suicide Reporting
A substantial body of study shows that media reports about celebrity suicides can influence people to
do the same. This phenomenon is called the Werther effect and happens when a vulnerable person
identifies with someone portrayed in the media and copies their behavior.

3. Researchers from Columbia University published an analysis of CDC’s suicide rate report following
Robin Williams’ death. According to the study, the increase in suicide rate was most evident among
men aged 30-44. This demographic is similar to the actor’s. Additionally, the researchers observed a
32.3 percent increase in suicide by strangulation, similar to what the media reported as Williams’
method of death.
In 1999, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a guideline on responsible suicide reporting.
This guideline includes avoiding using the term “committed suicide” and instead suggested using
“died by suicide.” It also advised against describing the method by which a person took his or her
life. WHO further warned against sensationalization, which different media outlets from paper to TV
and news websites failed to do following Williams’ death.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death not just in the U.S. but all over the world. With people’s
high exposure to different media platforms every day, it’s important to observe responsible
reporting. More importantly, anyone experiencing thoughts of inflicting self-harm is advised to talk
to a professional or to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

4. Sources:
http://ccbhtherapy.com/
http://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/30/E900
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0191405&type=printable
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/258814/WHO-MSD-MER-17.5-
eng.pdf;jsessionid=655F3D8E855805D4B7575437BD0BFCC3?sequence=1
https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/suicide/
https://jech.bmj.com/content/57/4/238