Was There a Suicide Epidemic After Goethe's Werther ?

"Giving publicity to suicides may lead to an epidemic of suicides." A claim such as this was made in connection with the publication of The Sorrows of Young Werther, J. W. von Goethe's epistolary novel, which came out in 1774. Suicides as imitations of other suicides have since then been placed under the heading "The Werther effect." The book had a tremendous success, and many people were worried that the suicide toll in its wake might be immense. The fear of an epidemic is examined in the article, and although a few imitation cases can be seen, the evidence for an epidemic cannot be said to be convincing. So, contrary to popular belief, it seems that a suicide epicemic did not arise after all.