Aim: This paper uses the public record to explore the relationship between reputation damage and suicide. Method: The public record of the last 20 years was examined for examples of individuals without evidence of mental disorder who suffered actual or threatened reputation damage and suicided shortly thereafter. Results: Fifteen individual cases were identified; 18 additional cases, less comprehensively detailed, were mentioned in reports of The Wood Royal Commission and Operation Auxin. All cases were male. Of the 15 individual cases, the average age was 55 years, with a range of 40 to 76 years. The available details of the 18 additional cases were consistent with these findings. Conclusion: Middle-aged males without clear evidence of mental disorder, who suffer actual or threatened reputation damage, may be at increased risk of suicide. Naming and shaming needs to be conducted with caution.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Clinical Sciences
Research Field:	Psychiatry (incl. Psychotherapy)
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Health and Support Services
Objective Field:	Mental Health Services
UTAS Author:	Pridmore, S (Professor Saxby Pridmore)
ID Code:	52884
Year Published:	2008
Web of Science® Times Cited:	21
Deposited By:	Psychiatry
Deposited On:	2008-10-06
Last Modified:	2010-04-12
Downloads:	0