Suicide is a term describing the voluntary end of a being's life. Mass suicide is a situation when a group of living beings at the same time, of their own free will, interrupt their lives. Most often we apply this concept to people, but it is characteristic not only of them. For example, scientists can tell quite a lot about the mass suicides of whales that are washed ashore. The reasons for such an act have not been fully clarified to this day.
General view
Mass suicide is less common than a single one, but, as they say, "smits on the spot." Once you are in a situation, it is almost impossible to get out of it. But single has more positive statistics. According to scientists, most of those who only once make an attempt to end their lives survive. True, the risk of a recurrence of the situation is high. Nearly all those who have succeeded in suicide have had a previous unsuccessful attempt.
As doctors say, any suicide, mass (teenagers, for example), including, deserves the utmost attention of specialists. Moreover, even single cases should be treated carefully, with maximum attention to the person, but survivors of a group suicide attemptdeserve a special approach, regardless of age, social status, success, self-realization. Everyone needs the help of doctors.
Risk higher
It has long been known that there are people who are more likely to commit suicide than others. It is no secret that there are associations, groups, in which there are mainly people who are ready for suicide - either alone or in a group. The risk is thought to be greater among women as they make more attempts. True, women alone often choose ineffective methods, so the mortality rate among men is higher. As they say, if the stronger sex beats, then for sure.
At the same time, older people end their lives voluntarily most often. Changes occurred only at the end of the last century, when 15-24-year-olds took the first place. If before that the public did not know the concept of mass suicide of children, then from that time to this day all parents know (or should know) about it.
Suicide and man-made causes
Many scientists say that the mass suicide of blue whales is caused by man. It is assumed that this is not at all an unauthorized transformation of life, but only a loss of orientation in space. And this is due to environmental pollution and the impossibility of echolocation for various reasons. The theory is still controversial, has supporters and opponents.
But the fact that man-made causes can provoke a person's suicide did not attract attention for a long time. The turning point was 2011, when Japanthere was a very large accident, the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant was damaged. The situation provoked 55 deaths in the same year, another 24 the next, and in 2013, 38 Japanese people ended their lives for this reason. Mostly they were men. The statistics clearly show that over the years, the psychological trauma caused by such accidents continues to torment people greatly.
Religion and suicide
Traditionally, America is a country where the problem of suicide is not ashamed to speak out loud. The way of life, the peculiarities of the structure of society, the activity of the media, avid for bought topics, has become the reason why any suicide is in the spotlight. What can we say about the attempts that united a group of people? Therefore, today the whole world knows about the mass suicide in Guyana, which made such a sensation that newspapers around the world wrote about it on the front pages.
It happened in the autumn of 1978. The main characters are the sectarians of the “Temple of the Peoples”. Then at the same time, 918 people died without permission, including children. Babies were found among the bodies. For the entire twentieth century, this particular case can rightfully be called the most famous. In many ways, it was because of this incident that the country began to have a negative attitude towards any sects, regardless of their orientation. The story is rather confusing, and to this day, in addition to the official one, there are at least three versions of the development of events. Of course, someone blames the authorities and special services for what happened, literally massacring a small town for a thousand people. However, most are inclined to think that the reason was in the religious leader,who, after a conflict with the authorities of the country, decided to end life, not only his own, but the commune as a whole.
And today?
No less sensational, however, locally, only in Russia, was the case of the so-called death groups. It was possible to identify, as the official theory says, communities in social networks that initiate mass child suicides. It is believed that the people behind this do not receive anything, but only help others - those who wish to end their lives, but cannot muster up the courage to do so. However, this is their position, declared in the same place, in social networks. They will never be able to get out in reality, because the actions they commit are a criminal offense.
The situation with the death groups, which caused a public outcry, attracted attention not by chance. According to some analysts, these communities not only provoked a deterioration in the mental state of children, but also became the cause of mass suicide. At least 130 children and teenagers died. However, social networks cover not only Russia, but also other countries, and modern children are perfectly able to “cover their tracks”, including on the Internet. This means that many more people could actually be affected.
Mass suicide theory
There are many sources confirming that feigning suicide can provoke suicide attempts in groups of people. Adolescents are the most vulnerable to such influence. Studies on this topic by Carstensen, Phillips were published in 1986. In particular,established a connection with the films broadcast on television, the news. The more such programs teenagers see, the higher the frequency of suicide attempts.
Some news made people more unstable. So, mass suicide was noted in connection with the death of Marilyn Monroe. True, this is far from the first time that an artist has touched mentally suggestible inhabitants in such a way. So, even the great Goethe, who in 1774 published The Sufferings of Young Werther, received accusations of provocations. The popularity of the work in Europe went off scale, but at the same time it also had a negative effect - suicides became more frequent, which most affected young men. This provoked even the introduction of a new term - the "Werther effect". Today, it is understood as an imitation influence that provokes a voluntary termination of life.
Werther effect
This phenomenon has survived to this day, although society has changed a lot since then. Statistics clearly show that the frequency of suicide is higher, the more detailed it is reflected in the media. Psychologists also know that when in a certain community (for example, an educational institution) one person commits suicide, there is a high probability that others can repeat his act.
Grouping is a psychological reaction, especially characteristic of adolescents as psychologically vulnerable, unstable members of society. But among those aged 21 years and older, the likelihood of life interruption due to the Werther effect is much lower.
Psychology andlaws
To this day there is no single position that psychologists, psychiatrists from different countries, as well as legal experts would adhere to. On the one hand, it seems obvious that we need methods of regulating the media, various public publications, in relation to the present - social networks, in order to reduce the Werther effect to a minimum. At the same time, there are rights and freedoms declared by the Constitution, there is the right of speech and freedom of choice, violation of which is categorically unacceptable in a modern democratic society. This confuses lawmakers - how to save the youth and not cause a wave of protest?
Probably one day this problem will find its solution. In the meantime, we can only study cases of mass suicide known to human history, be horrified by them and thereby protect ourselves from repeating such acts. And besides, to be attentive and caring with others - in a word, humane. No wonder, after all, scientists in unison argue that the increase in the number of suicidal attempts is provoked by the isolation of a person in society. Yes, we are many, but we are far from each other. Perhaps this is the root of the problem.
