In October 1965, a girls' school in Blackburn, England, experienced an outbreak of fainting and dizziness that affected 85 students, many of whom were rushed to the hospital. The incident, which was triggered by a three-hour parade that produced 20 faints the previous day, was attributed to mass hysteria, with younger students proving more susceptible. The epidemic was exacerbated by a previous polio epidemic that had left the population emotionally vulnerable.

The Blackburn fainting epidemic has been cited in psychological and sociological studies as an example of mass psychogenic illness in a school setting. The event has inspired writers to explore the dynamics of fear and the power of suggestion among young people, and it has been referenced in works that examine the psychology of groups and the role of stress in triggering collective behavior. It remains a vivid example of how emotional contagion can spread through a community.