The Media Response (IN: The Prevention of Suicide, edited by R Jenkins, S Griffiths et al)

This article asks whether the link between mass media portrayal of self-violence & real-life suicide is causal. Phillips’ Werther effect, in which suicides increase as a result of the media’s coverage, is criticized. Methodological problems & theoretical issues that Phillips has failed to answer are listed. Micro-investigation (i.e. small number of subjects with much information about each) is suggested as a method for future research, in order to address the problems noted. (49 refs.)