@article{ref1,
title="Preventing suicide by influencing mass-media reporting: the Viennese experience 1980-1996",
journal="Archives of suicide research",
year="1998",
author="Etzersdorfer, Elmar and Sonneck, Gernot",
volume="4",
number="1",
pages="67-74",
abstract="This paper reports a field experiment concerning mass-media and suicide. After the implementation of the subway system in Vienna in 1978, it became increasingly acceptable as means to commit suicide, with the suicide rates showing a sharp increase. This and the fact that the mass-media reported about these events in a very dramatic way, lead to the formation of a study-group of the Austrian Association for Suicide Prevention (OVSKK), which developed media guidelines and launched a media campaign in mid-1987. Subsequently, the media reports changed markedly and the number of subway-suicides and attempts dropped more than 80% from the first to the second half of 1987, remaining at a rather low level since. Conclusions regarding the possible reduction of imitative suicidal behaviour by influencing mass-media-reports are drawn. Experiences from the media campaign are presented, as well as considerations about further research.<p />",
language="en",
issn="1381-1118",
doi="10.1080/13811119808258290",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13811119808258290"
}