Suicide in music subcultures

Suicide in music subcultures refers to the relationship between members of a subculture of music fans and the act of suicide. Researchers have examined the relationship between heavy metal subculture,^[1] goth subculture,^[2] emo subculture,^[3] and opera subculture^[4] and suicide.

Goth subculture

A study published on the British Medical Journal concluded that "identification as belonging to the Goth subculture [at some point in their lives] was the best predictor of self harm and attempted suicide [among young teens]", and that it was most possibly due to a selection mechanism (persons that wanted to harm themselves later identified as goths, thus raising the percentage of those persons who identify as goths).^[5] According to The Guardian, some goth teens are at more likely to harm themselves or attempt suicide. A medical journal study of 1,300 Scottish schoolchildren until their teen years found that 53% of the goth teens had attempted to harm themselves and 47% had attempted suicide. The study found that the "correlation was stronger than any other predictor."^[6] The study was based on a sample of 15 teenagers who identified as goths, of which 8 had self-harmed by any method, 7 had self-harmed by cutting, scratching or scoring, and 7 had attempted suicide.^[7][8][9]

The authors held that most self-harm by teens was done before joining the subculture, and that joining the subculture would actually protect them and help them deal with distress in their lives.^[8][9] The authors insisted on the study being based on small numbers and on the need of replication to confirm the results.^[8][9] The study was criticized for using only a small sample of goth teens and not taking into account other influences and differences between types of goths ; by taking a study from a larger number of people.^[10]

References

1. Stack, S; Gundlach, J; Reeves, JL (1994). "The heavy metal subculture and suicide". Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 24 (1): 15–23. doi:10.1111/j.1943-278X.1994.tb00659.x. PMID 8203005. S2CID 27120844.
2. Young, R. (2006). "Prevalence of deliberate self harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: longitudinal cohort study". BMJ. 332 (7549): 1058–1061. doi:10.1136/bmj.38790.495544.7C. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC 1458563. PMID 16613936.
3. Definis-Gojanović, M; Gugić, D; Sutlović, D (December 2009). "Suicide and Emo youth subculture--a case analysis". Collegium Antropologicum. 33 (Suppl 2): 173–5. PMID 20120408.
4. Stack, Steven (2002). "Opera Subculture and Suicide for Honor". Death Studies. 26 (5): 431–437. doi:10.1080/07481180290086763. ISSN 0748-1187. PMID 12046619. S2CID 46253511.
5. Young, Robert; Sweeting, Helen; West, Patrick (13 April 2006). "Prevalence of deliberate self harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: longitudinal cohort study". BMJ. 332 (7549): 1058–1061. doi:10.1136/bmj.38790.495544.7C. PMC 1458563. PMID 16613936. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
6. Polly Curtis and John Carvel. "Teen goths more prone to suicide, study shows." The Guardian, Friday 14 April 2006
7. Robert Young; Helen Sweeting; Patrick West (4 May 2006). "Prevalence of deliberate self harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: longitudinal cohort study". British Medical Journal. 332 (7549): 1058–1061. doi:10.1136/bmj.38790.495544.7C. PMC 1458563. PMID 16613936.
8. Gaia Vince (14 April 2006). "Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children". New Scientist. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
9. "Goths 'more likely to self-harm'". BBC. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
10. Sources: This most likely meant that, according to the survey, there was more of a stereotype towards goths that they did practice self-harming. Some would argue that it is a very unfair stereotype to place upon goths, as the vast majority of the goth subculture is against even the thought of practicing self-harm and is strongly against it.
    • Letter to the editor Mark Taubert, senior house officer in palliative medicine Holme Tower Marie Curie Hospital, Jothy Kandasamy specialist registrar in neurosurgery Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery (2006-05-20). "Letters. Self harm in Goth youth subculture: Conclusion relates only to small sample". BMJ. 1 (332(7551)): 1216. doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7551.1216. PMC 1463972. PMID 16710018.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    • Letter to the editor Phillipov, M (2006-05-20). "Letter. Self harm in Goth youth subculture: Study merely reinforces popular stereotypes". BMJ. 332 (7551): 1215–1216. doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7551.1215-b. PMC 1463947. PMID 16710012.
    • Author's reply Young, R; Sweeting, H; West, P (2006-06-03). "Letter. Self harm in Goth youth subculture: authors' reply". BMJ. 332 (7553): 1335. doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1335-a. PMC 1473089. PMID 16740576.