海角大神

Mental health experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will investigate the town of Palo Alto, Calif., after a series of teenage suicides.聽

Palo Alto, the affluent hometown of Stanford University, first witnessed a suicide cluster between 2009 and 2010 when six teens killed themselves, and four more committed suicide between Oct. 2014 and March 2015. The CDC has launched an investigation into the role media coverage of the deaths may have played in influencing of other students' decisions to take their own lives. The results of the investigation could inform best practices for media organizations covering suicide.

Under the CDC鈥檚 definition, a suicide cluster is 鈥渁 group of suicides or suicide attempts, or both, that than would normally be expected in a given community.鈥� Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 15 and 24, but the agency estimated that such clusters only account for one to five percent of these deaths.聽

鈥淣evertheless, a great deal of anecdotal evidence suggests that, in a given suicide cluster, suicides occurring later in the cluster often appear to have been influenced by suicides occurring earlier in the cluster,鈥� the CDC explains.聽

And in almost all cases, a proliferation of negative media is present, the CDC goes on to explain.

鈥淓cological evidence also suggests that exposure of the general population to the risk of suicide for certain susceptible individuals,鈥� says the CDC.聽

Madelyn Gould, a professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, says young adults are 鈥渕uch more vulnerable to being influenced by somebody else鈥檚 suicide,鈥� especially after it is repeatedly broadcast across social media networks and news outlets.聽

But mental health professionals and educators have found that students are also vulnerable to their peers鈥� positive support.

鈥淏ut the stories of lives saved often don鈥檛 make headlines 鈥� and prevention experts are encouraged about progress in that direction,鈥� 海角大神鈥檚 Stacy Khadaroo reported in 2013. 鈥淎 clearer picture of how suicide 鈥榗ontagion鈥� can happen is emerging 鈥� and prompting stronger efforts to guard against it.鈥澛�

The prevalence of television and the Internet can broadcast the details of suicide cases among teens, but it also can help spread prevention resources.聽

After the Palo Alto first suicide, 鈥渁 lot of media came in and were investigating and said 鈥榃hy are these kids killing themselves?鈥� 鈥� Shawna Chen, 18, told ABC News. 鈥�, like a wound.鈥澛�

School officials and parents have struggled with how to adequately honor the victims without turning the students into martyrs, because "one key to heading off copycats was not romanticizing the death," The Atlantic explains. But Professor Gould says she is "extremely impressed," with the Palo Alto community's response, honoring the late students by focusing on solutions instead of memorializing the past.聽

To combat the negative narrative pervading the students鈥� lives, Ms. Chen started a section for the paper this year titled 鈥楥hanging the Narrative,鈥� where students can share essays about their own anxieties and fears.聽

And this positive contradiction of fear-mongering news can really help students,聽Gould tells ABC.

鈥淲e have research that shows stories about resilience and coping and dealing with suicidal thoughts in ways that are engaging ... they are not only inspiring, they can prevent somebody else鈥檚 suicide attempt.鈥澛�

This report contains material from the Associated Press.