3 ms·
I'm glad this is on the front page. Often when I learn of the suicide of someone I knew or respected I briefly experience idle "sympathetic" suicidal thoughts.
by ghc 14y ago
I'm glad this is on the front page. Often when I learn of the suicide of someone I knew or respected I briefly experience idle "sympathetic" suicidal thoughts. This always leaves me shaken because we've all been taught to seek help immediately if we ever experience suicidal thoughts, but I know I'm not depressed, even if life is indeed very difficult sometimes. I imagine someone truly depressed and suicidal might experience a very strong impulse to act on their thoughts upon hearing news like this.
- netrus 14y agoIn Germany we call it Werther Effekt (following Goethe's novel Die Leiden des Jungen Werther). Public attention to a suicide often triggers additional suicides.