DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2020.v08i03.024

Pages: 346-347

The Werther effect, or suicidal contagion via the media, is a serious phenomenon, that is underestimated and little studied among children. Our case, an eight years old girl, who did a suicide attempt by hanging, following a similar scene on television, brought us to do a review on this subject. In fact, children would be more vulnerable than adolescents and adults facing media influence. This is due to the fact that imitation and identification phenomena are more important during early stages of development. However, means of communication can be used as protective means against suicide, by involving parents and community.