Impact Of Robin Williams' Suicide On General Suicide Rate
  • 10 years ago
An estimated 75 percent of people who suffer from clinical depression aren’t diagnosed or treated. The recent suicide of the beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams has many people talking about depression, and the dangers associated with mental illness.

The recent suicide of the beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams has many people talking about depression, and the dangers associated with the mental illness.

One issue being brought up is how a celebrity suicide might trigger other people to kill themselves.

Researchers think that suicide can be contagious.

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline reportedly received more calls than usual on the day that news of Robin Williams’ death was announced.

Some callers even spoke about the actor’s death as making them especially sad, and even suicidal.

One report says that knowing the method of suicide used by celebrities and the way the media covers it might influence how other people react, especially those who are depressed, or emotionally unstable.

Another example of celebrity suicide becoming contagious is the icon and celebrity Marilyn Monroe, who committed suicide back in 1962.

A study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says that the year after she died there were more females close to Monroe’s age who took their own lives compared to statistics from other years.
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