Vic: Copycat suicides feared if 60 Minutes show screened: Judge

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2009
Vic: Copycat suicides feared if 60 Minutes show screened: Judge

A Supreme Court judge says she blocked the Nine Network's 60 Minutes from screening
a controversial segment about teen suicides because of concerns over copycat suicides.

The national anti-depression initiative beyondblue won a last-minute injunction last
Sunday to stop the program broadcasting the story about the suicides of four students
at a Geelong school.

Justice ELIZABETH HOLLINGWORTH says she considered evidence .. including that from
a psychologist .. the program could have created a risk of copycat suicides among vulnerable
young people .. especially ones linked to the school in question.

Health experts and the Victorian Department of Education will now view the footage
before another court hearing next Friday.

The Nine Network has agreed not to screen the segment before then.

AAP RTV md/pmu/fdf

KEYWORD: INJUNCTION (MELBOURNE)

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