Suicide in Films: the Impact of Suicide Portrayals on Nonsuicidal Viewers’ Well-Being and the Effectiveness of Censorship

The effects of suicide films on recipients’ emotional & mental states, as well as the influence of censorship, was studied. 154 nonsuicidal Austrian subjects watched the original or a censored version of a suicide film or a drama without suicide. Data were collected by questionnaires. The viewing led to a deterioration of mood & an increase in inner tension & depression scores, but also to a rise in self-esteem & life satisfaction & to a drop in suicidality. There were no relevant differences between the film groups. The more a subject identified with the protagonist, the greater were the negative effects. (34 refs.) JA