"Suicide awareness materials: do they help people with suicidal ideation?"

"The ‘Werther effect’ suggests that a spike in deaths by suicide is often observed when a death by suicide (often that of a celebrity) is widely publicised (WHO, 2017). A report on Suicide Prevention by WHO (2017) proposed explanations including social learning and modelling, wherein the death is inadvertently glamorised through the photos of the deceased or the language used to describe the event alongside with the associated circumstances. It is suggested that vulnerable individuals may identify with the deceased and have an increase likelihood of engaging in a similar act. The capability to engage in suicidal behaviours is particularly increased when information about the method of suicide is reported.

On the other hand, a “Papageno effect” is also proposed wherein coverage of effective coping mechanisms highlighting alternative paths (e.g. stories of hope and recovery) may have a protective effect against death by suicide.

Niederkrotenthaler and Till (2019) develop a strong rationale for their research. Whilst the Werther effect has been more marked amongst those with prior suicidal thoughts and behaviours, the Papageno effect has only been studied across the general population, as opposed to focusing on those who are vulnerable. Individuals with suicidal ideation would be the primary focus for suicide prevention initiatives, therefore there is a need to examine the phenomenon within this group.

The authors also note the need to study possible effects of who the intervention is delivered by, e.g. a person with lived experience of suicidality vs. a mental health professional. They suggest that interventions delivered by individuals with lived experience may resonate more closely with these vulnerable individuals. This resonates with current evidence around the values of peer-assisted interventions for those with depression, with some suggesting that the involvement of professionals may compromise efficacy (APA, 2018, Bellamy, Schmutte & Davidson, 2017, Bryan & Arkowitz, 2015, Fuhr et al., 2014).

Overall, they conclude that this is the first study to assess whether these educative messages actually serve to reduce suicide risk among those who are already at risk for suicidal behaviour. Secondly, their research is the first to consider the potential influences dependant on who delivers the message."
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