Potter 'helps beat suicide'

Harry Potter has been hailed as an inspiration to children suffering from depression or thinking about suicide. An Australian lecturer, addressing a two-day conference entirely devoted to the fictional boy wizard, described JK Rowling's novels as Prozac for children.

Some of the foes Harry struggles to overcome represent our own fears and doubts, Anna McCormack told the audience at Flinders University, Adelaide.

Pointing to scary spirits featured in the books, such as the dementors and boggarts, she said Harry and his friends - Ron and Hermione - were a role model for children in showing them how to overcome their demons.

Amanda Muller, who organised the event, agreed the stories were useful, adding: 'The books make understanding depression simple.'