Overdoses on television may encourage others

Increases in suicides after reporting and portrayal of suicide by the media have been demonstrated, but less attention has been paid to the possible effects of the media on deliberate self harm. Hawton et al(p 972) studied presentations to general hospitals for overdose in the United Kingdom after a paracetamol overdose in an episode of the popular British television drama Casualty. Overdose presentations increased by 17% in the first week after the episode and by 9% in the second week. Paracetamol overdoses increased in particular, but only among Casualty viewers. Nearly a fifth of patients had seen the episode.