National guidelines for media reporting of suicide

Ramadas, Smitha; Kuttichira, Praveenlal; Andrade, Chittaranjan

doi:10.4103/psychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_805_19

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Sinyor et al (2020) have shown an improvement of the media reporting of suicide following the publication of local guidelines. The new Media Guidelines for Reporting Suicide (Samaritans Ireland, 2020), which was published after the completion of our study is welcomed and will hopefully lead to further improvements in journalistic standards.…”

Section: Reporting Of Self-harm/suicidementioning

confidence: 94%

The portrayal of mental health in Irish mainstream news media

Gallagher

O’Leary

McGreal-Ballone

et al. 2022

Int J Soc Psychiatry

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Objectives: The portrayal of mental health in the mainstream news media is an important topic for discussion. Concerns about stigmatisation of those suffering from mental ill-health have been expressed for many years, leading to numerous anti-stigma campaigns. Previous Irish studies demonstrated an improvement in the tone and content of articles over time. This study aims to re-evaluate this topic, 19 years after it was last studied. Methods: Four Irish papers including the tabloid, broadsheet, online and compact paper with the highest readership were analysed daily for a 12-week period. Using pre-determined definitions based on previous studies, all articles or headlines incorporating psychiatry-related material were examined for tone, content, utilisation of terminology, reference to self-harm, suicide and violence. Results: In total, 735 articles (2.19/paper/day) were identified and analysed. The majority of articles were found to have a supportive or factual tone. A higher proportion of judgemental or sensationalist articles were found in the tabloid newspaper. An improvement was noted compared to previous Irish studies. A decrease in articles written by mental health professionals was noted. Only 5% of articles portrayed psychotic disorders, with many of these referring to violence. Compliance with relevant guidelines for reporting of suicide was good overall. Conclusion: There has continued to be an improvement in the tone and content of articles since previous Irish studies. The introduction of guidelines within this time may have played a significant role. Psychotic illness received limited coverage and was more likely to be portrayed in a stigmatising manner, guidelines relating to this could be of benefit. Engagement between psychiatrists and the media is important to improve the portrayal of psychotic illness and enhance awareness.

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Section: Reporting Of Self-harm/suicidementioning

confidence: 94%

The portrayal of mental health in Irish mainstream news media

Gallagher

O’Leary

McGreal-Ballone

et al. 2022

Int J Soc Psychiatry

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“…Of utmost importance for the current study, news media tend to provide terse and superficial explanations for suicidal behavior such as financial problems, relationship issues, or bullying (Neuringer, 1987). The media guidelines in many countries (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [AFSP], 2020 ;Everymind, 2020;Nationales Suizidpräventionsprogramm, 2022;Niederkrotenthaler & Sonneck, 2007;Samaritans, 2020;Tomandl et al, 2021), however, specifically recommend avoiding monocausal and thus over-simplistic explanations for suicidal behavior. Similarly, a resource for media professionals developed by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017) recommends avoiding misinforming the public about suicide, normalizing suicide, or providing simplistic explanations for a suicide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of monocausal versus multicausal explanations of suicide in suicide reporting: A randomized controlled trial

Till,

Arendt,

Kirchner

et al. 2023

Suicide & Life Threat Behav

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BackgroundMedia guidelines for reporting on suicide recommend that journalists should avoid monocausal explanations of suicide, but it is unclear if media items with monocausal explanations elicit different effects as compared to multicausal portrayals.MethodUsing a web‐based randomized controlled trial (n = 969), we tested five versions of a news article about the suicide of a teenage girl with varying portrayals of reasons for the suicide: (1) bullying as the sole (external) factor (i.e., monocausal), (2) several external social factors, (3) a combination of internal and external factors, (4) a combination of internal and external factors along with a focus on suicide prevention, or (5) no reason for the suicide (control group). We measured perceptions about the cause of suicide, attitudes toward suicide and suicide prevention, and identification with the suicidal protagonist with questionnaires.ResultsReaders of articles that portrayed suicide as being caused by one specific reason or exclusively social factors tended to adopt these misconceptions. Identification with the suicidal protagonist did not vary between interventions groups, but was lower in the control group.ConclusionHighlighting the multifactorial etiology of suicide in news articles may help to avoid the misconception that suicide is a monocausal issue.

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“…Because of increasing recognition of the importance of news coverage of suicide, encouragement of responsible media reporting is included as an important issue in national suicide prevention policies. There are also wellestablished guidelines for media reporting on suicidal behavior (Samaritans, 2020;World Health Organization & International Association for Suicide Prevention, 2017), and specific guidance about such reporting in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic (Hawton, Marzano et al, 2021;Reidenberg & Niederkrotenthaler, 2020).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Have News Reports on Suicide and Attempted Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic Adhered to Guidance on Safer Reporting?

Marzano

Hawley²,

Fraser³

et al. 2023

Crisis

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Abstract. Background: Associations between sensational news coverage of suicide and increases in suicidal behavior have been well documented. Amid growing concern over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates, it is especially important that news coverage adheres to recommended standards. Method: We analyzed the quality and content of print and online UK news reports of possible COVID-19-related suicides and suicide attempts in the first 4 months of the pandemic ( N = 285). Results: The majority of reports made explicit links between suicidal behavior and the COVID-19 pandemic in the headline (65.5%), largely based on statements by family, friends, or acquaintances of the deceased (60%). The impact of the pandemic on suicidal behavior was most often attributed to feelings of isolation (27.4%), poor mental health (14.7%), and entrapment due to government-imposed restrictions (14.4%). Although rarely of poor overall quality, reporting was biased toward young people, frontline staff, and relatively unusual suicides and, to varying degrees, failed to meet recommended standards (e.g., 41.1% did not signpost readers to sources of support). Limitations: This analysis cannot account for the impact of reporting on suicide. Conclusion: Careful attention must be paid to the quality and content of reports, especially as longer-term consequences of the pandemic develop.

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National guidelines for media reporting of suicide

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

The portrayal of mental health in Irish mainstream news media

The portrayal of mental health in Irish mainstream news media

The role of monocausal versus multicausal explanations of suicide in suicide reporting: A randomized controlled trial

Have News Reports on Suicide and Attempted Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic Adhered to Guidance on Safer Reporting?

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