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The impact of media coverage of a celebrity suicide on suicide and attempted suicide rates in Taiwan

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Ying-Yeh
  • Men, Vera Yu
  • Yeung, Cheuk Yui
  • Wu, Kevin Chien-Chang
  • Chi, Ying-Chen
  • Yip, Paul SF.

Abstract

Media coverage of celebrity suicides can shape population-level suicidal behavior, yet most existing evidence focuses on mortality rather than non-fatal attempts. This study investigates the impact of media coverage following the suicide of Chiung Yao, an 86-year-old best-selling novelist and cultural figure in Chinese-speaking societies, on suicide mortality and suicide attempts in Taiwan.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Ying-Yeh & Men, Vera Yu & Yeung, Cheuk Yui & Wu, Kevin Chien-Chang & Chi, Ying-Chen & Yip, Paul SF., 2026. "The impact of media coverage of a celebrity suicide on suicide and attempted suicide rates in Taiwan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 392(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:392:y:2026:i:c:s0277953626000699
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.118994
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. King-wa Fu & C H Chan, 2013. "A Study of the Impact of Thirteen Celebrity Suicides on Subsequent Suicide Rates in South Korea from 2005 to 2009," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, January.
    2. Ueda, Michiko & Mori, Kota & Matsubayashi, Tetsuya & Sawada, Yasuyuki, 2017. "Tweeting celebrity suicides: Users' reaction to prominent suicide deaths on Twitter and subsequent increases in actual suicides," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 158-166.
    3. Jan Domaradzki, 2021. "The Werther Effect, the Papageno Effect or No Effect? A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-20, March.
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