Risk factors for copycat suicide:
(1) The person committing the index suicide is famous (sports figure, movie actor, singer, etc).
(2) The initial suicide is portrayed in a media source in manner that makes it attractive to a susceptible person.
(3) There is increased social or economic stress in the society.
(4) The copycat is a member of cult or tightly knit group.
(5) The copycat is mentally ill.
Reasons to suspect a copycat event:
(1) the subsequent suicides follow the initial suicide temporally at a rate greater than usual
(2) the copycat is obsessed with the initial suicide
(3) the copycat leaves a note or other communication alluding to the first suicide
(4) the method of committing suicide is the same as the index case
