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Effect of death of Diana, Princess of Wales on suicide and deliberate self-harm

Centre for Suicide Research, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford

EDMUND JUSZCZAK, MSc

ICRF/NHS Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford

LOUIS APPLEBY, MD, ROS McDONNELL, BA, TIM AMOS, MRCPsych and KATY KIERNAN, BSc

School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Manchester, Withington Hospital, Manchester

HILARY PARROTT, MRCPsych

Department of Psychological Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford

Correspondence: Professor Keith Hawton, Centre for Suicide Research, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX37JX. E-mail: keith.hawton{at}psych.ox.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None.

Background The death of the Princess of Wales in 1997 was followed by widespread public mourning. Such major events may influence suicidal behaviour.

Aims To assess the impact of the Princess's death on suicide and deliberate self-harm (DSH).

Method Analysis, using Poisson regression, of the number of suicides and open verdicts (‘suicides’) in England and Wales following the Princess's death compared to the 3 months beforehand, and the equivalent periods in 1992-1996. Similar analysis on DSH presentations to a general hospital.

Results Suicides increased during the month following the Princess's funeral (+17.4%). This was particularly marked in females (+33.7%), especially those aged 25-44 years (+45.1%). Suicides did not fall in the week between the death and the funeral. Presentations for DSH increased significantly during the week following the death (+44.3%), especially in females (+65.1%). Examination of case notes suggested that the influence of the death was largely through amplification of personal losses or exacerbation of existing distress.

Conclusions The death of a major public figure can influence rates of suicidal behaviour. For DSH, the impact may be immediate, but for suicide it may be delayed.

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