A Qualitative Analysis of Self-Harm and Suicide in Sri Lankan Printed Newspapers

Abstract

Abstract. Background: Media reporting may influence suicidal behavior. In-depth exploration of how self-harm and suicide are portrayed in newspaper articles in a middle-income country such as Sri Lanka is lacking. Aims: We aimed to explore how self-harm and suicide are portrayed in Sri Lankan printed newspapers. Method: Seven English- and Sinhala-language Sri Lankan newspapers were screened for articles reporting on self-harm and suicide (December 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015). A thematic analysis was conducted. Results: In the 78 articles identified for analysis, certain aspects were overemphasized (inappropriate behavior) and others underemphasized (alcohol and complexities of self-harm). Explanations of self-harm were one-sided and a suicide prevention narrative was lacking. Limitations: Another time-frame and inclusion of Tamil newspapers as well as social media and online publications would provide additional understanding. Conclusion: The study found an indication of simplistic reporting. Greater focus on prevention and a nuanced portrayal of self-harm could reduce stigma and imitative behavior.

Suicide Scripts in Italian Newspapers

“…A limitation of these two studies is that they did not examine suicide contexts by sex. This study's findings, that in Italian newspapers suicide is narrated based on local gender stereotypes, are similar to newspaper suicide-narrative evidence from other countries (e.g., Austria, Israel, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the United States) with higher male suicide mortality (Canetto et al, 2017;Chen et al, 2012;Cheng & Yip, 2012;Eisenwort et al, 2014;Sørensen et al, 2020;Weimann & Fishman, 1995). A common denominator across these countries' newspaper suicide-narratives is that women's suicide tends to be psychologized and considered a sign of women's weak emotional constitution while men's suicide tends to be explained in terms of serious, usually social and/or economic adversitieswith men who die by suicide presented as casualties of great misfortune.…”

“…Women’s and men’s media-reported suicide reasons are often different and often based on local gender stereotypes (Chen et al, 2012; Cheng & Yip, 2012; Eisenwort et al, 2014; Sørensen et al, 2020; Weimann & Fishman, 1995). For example, in Austria’s and Sri Lanka’s print media, women’s suicides were more likely to be explained in terms of a mental disorder and via pejorative language (e.g., crazy, ignorant) than men’s suicides (Eisenwort et al, 2014: Sørensen et al., 2020).…”

“…Women’s and men’s media-reported suicide reasons are often different and often based on local gender stereotypes (Chen et al, 2012; Cheng & Yip, 2012; Eisenwort et al, 2014; Sørensen et al, 2020; Weimann & Fishman, 1995). For example, in Austria’s and Sri Lanka’s print media, women’s suicides were more likely to be explained in terms of a mental disorder and via pejorative language (e.g., crazy, ignorant) than men’s suicides (Eisenwort et al, 2014: Sørensen et al., 2020). A Hong Kong newspaper study found that men’s suicides were typically described as a response to unemployment and/or unmanageable debt even though evidence from psychological autopsy studies did not support such explanation (Cheng & Yip, 2012).…”

Indian media professionals’ perspectives regarding the role of media in suicide prevention and receptiveness to media guidelines: a qualitative study

“…Similar reporting styles have been observed in neighbouring countries. [20][21][22] We also reported some significant disparities between the epidemiological data on suicide in the population and the stories selectively presented for mass media reports, 23 indicative of a process, whereby media determines which suicides are considered newsworthy. Suicides involving women, younger people aged under 30 and those who were students or farmers were among those groups over-reported relative to their occurrence in the broader population.…”

Celebrity Suicide—A Cause for Media Celebration? Analysis of Three Newspaper Reports

“…Monocausal attribution, simplistic conceptualization, and blame apportioning manner of reporting are detrimental to suicide prevention. 10 The media tends to exaggerate the most proximal cause and ignores the distal causes. To portray suicide in the right perspective, the journalists need to understand the complex and multidimensional nature of suicide.…”