Copycat cases? Experts weigh in, stress mental well-being
Times of India | 2 March 2025
123 Kolkata: The suicide of a father and his autistic daughter at Behala's Shakuntala Park could be a case of ‘copycat suicide'. This incident occurred almost two weeks after the Tangra incident, where three members of a family died and three survived after an apparent suicide pact went wrong.
Fifty-three-year-old Sajan Das was depressed and was reportedly a part of a conversation with some friends where the Tangra Dey family incident was discussed. This discussion took place at Rameswarpur near Banerjeehat in Maheshtala over a cup of tea.
Copycat suicide, or the Werther effect, occurs when a widely reported suicide influences others to take the same step. Seeing a similar case can act as a trigger, especially for those in distress or with strong suicidal tendencies, said psychiatrists and psychologists.
"This is definitely a possibility since the Tangra incident has been all over the media and is being discussed. It could be distressing and hence dangerous for those going through acute depression or those who are suicidal. Often, I come across patients who say they couldn't die by suicide even after contemplating it strongly since they couldn't muster up the courage for the act. When they see or read something like this, it often acts as a trigger, and they turn more desperate and try to emulate it," said Psychiatrist Jai Ranjan Ram.
The case, mirroring the Tangra incident, highlights the need for responsible media reporting, mental health awareness, and stronger support for caregivers, said psychologist Soumya Mukherjee.
"We must focus on solutions, support systems, and hope to prevent such losses. On social media, people are getting lost in an illusion by only seeing glamorous posts, drifting further away from reality. They are losing the strength to fight. Social media could fuel copycat suicides by sensationalising tragedies, amplifying despair, and spreading harmful narratives. Viral content, algorithm-driven exposure, and lack of supportive messaging can trigger suicide," added Mukherjee.
But it's not just real-life incidents that could trigger it, said Ram.
"It could even be a film or a web series. An Australian web series depicted suicides, which made many of my patients contemplate an attempt after watching it. Content on the web could be risky for sensitive people and those on the brink."
Stay updated with breaking news, weather updates, bank holidays and upcoming public holidays in march.