It hits close to home, and there is the idea that, if these celebrities who are hugely successful and have access to all the resources to get help are unable to get better, what hope is there for the rest of us? This can increase a sense of hopelessness and helplessness among those who are experiencing these mental health issues.

However, a possible danger of raising the issue of the “contagious effect of suicide” or “copycat suicides” is that this may lead to a fear of reporting these tragedies, which becomes problematic.

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There is a misconception that talking about suicide can plant the idea in someone’s head and influence them to do it. In fact, it is often the opposite. When we engage in open communication with people battling mental health issues and ask difficult, possibly uncomfortable, questions about how they are feeling, we let them know that we care and are here to listen to and support them. This is likely to help them feel less alone.

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Moreover, once we have an indication of how they are feeling, we can assess how best to help them, and encourage them to seek therapy. If there is a fear of talking about depression and suicide, we risk increasing the stigma attached to mental health issues, and often the sufferer feels even more alone, hopeless and helpless.