Suicide prevention groups protest ‘The Office’

In episode, Steve Carell’s character tries to scare kids by faking a hanging

	Steve Carell's character, bumbling boss Michael Scott on "The Office," faked a hanging on a recent episode.
Justin Lubin / NBC via AP

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updated 5:27 p.m. ET Nov. 5, 2009

NEW YORK - Last week's episode of "The Office" where Steve Carell's character tries to scare children by faking a hanging has disturbed suicide prevention groups.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and other mental health organizations are asking NBC to be more sensitive. They worry that the graphic depiction of Carell struggling in a hangman's noose might encourage mentally ill people to take their own lives.

The group's executive director, Rober Gebbia, says the activists aren't trying to censor NBC. But Gebbia says suicide shouldn't be depicted as a joke.

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NBC had no immediate comment about the concerns.

(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC.)