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Jul 15, 2026
Suicide in Popular Media and Culture
Studies in Framing a Social Catastrophe
Summary
NB: This episode contains a discussion of suicide and may not be appropriate for all listeners. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, help is always available at 988 in the United States.
Suicide in Popular Media and Culture: Studies in Framing a Social Catastrophe (Bristol University Press, 2026) brings together scholars from across disciplines to examine how suicide is mythologized, politicized, and challenged across film, TV, young adult literature, digital platforms, online communities, and more. From news coverage of celebrity suicide to social media interventions with at-risk youth, this wide-ranging collection explores suicide’s intersections with class, gender, chronic illness, and cultural identity.
The book is co-edited by Mike F. Alvarez (Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of New Hampshire), Warren J. Bareiss (Professor of Communication at the University of South Carolina Upstate), and Jolane Flanigan (Professor of Communication Studies at Rocky Mountain College and a licensed mental health counselor).
Some Crisis Resources
*Note: some of these may utilize emergency services or law enforcement to conduct wellness/welfare checks or active rescues. Ask if these are possibilities at any point during your conversation.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Dial 988
The Trevor Project
Provides support for LGBTQ+ youth facing crisis
1-866-488-7386
Text: 678678
Chat: Here
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741-741
Trans Lifeline
1-877-565-8860 (U.S.)
1-877-330-6366 (Canada)
Warmline.org
Contains links to warmlines in every state
Provides peer support
Find a Helpline
For those not in the U.S. Search for links to crisis centers worldwide
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