Social and Media Repercussion of Anonymous Suicides in Spain during the financial crisis

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS12120181140

Keywords:

Suicide, Financial Crisis, Spain, Media Coverage.

Abstract

Suicide accounts for more than 3000 casualties in Spain every year, turning into one of the most prevalent causes of death. These figures are similar to other Western countries, meaning that suicides are common in these societies, although one might not be aware of their occurrence. Media attention is voluntarily outside of this daily phenomenon, as a way to avoid replication and proliferation of suicidal behaviours, even there is not clear evidence about this causal linkage between coverage and imitation. There is not a solid line of research about the causes lying behind suicides, so the economic and social factors are present, even their influence is not well determined yet. The unexpected impact of the financial crisis in Spain led to a growing number of cases with a direct relation between life conditions and the fatal decision. This article explores the coverage (and the lack of it) in the Spanish media of several cases of “economic” suicide, most of them linked to eviction processes and critical financial situations. We aim to shed some light on a controversial issue regarding media effects and public policies.

Author Biography

Miguel Vicente Mariño, Universidad de Valladolid

Profesor Titular / Associate Professor Facultad de CC. Sociales, Jurídicas y de la Comunicación Universidad de Valladolid - Campus de Segovia Director - Departamento de Sociología y Trabajo Social Coordinador - GIR en Ciencias Sociales Aplicadas ECREA Executive Board Member - www.ecrea.eu IAMCR Audience Section Vice-Chair - www.iamcr.org/s-wg/mcpc/aud

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Published

2018-03-01

How to Cite

Mariño, M. V. (2018). Social and Media Repercussion of Anonymous Suicides in Spain during the financial crisis. Observatorio (OBS*), 12(1). https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS12120181140

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Articles

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