Media Guidelines on the Reporting of Suicide

Abstract

There is strong evidence for the existence of the Werther effect, or the phenomenon of an observer copying suicidal behavior he or she has seen modelled in the media. As a consequence, a number of countries have developed guidelines that promote responsible reporting of suicide. Using nine such guidelines as examples, this paper demonstrates that they tend to have similar content (emphasizing, for example, that suicide should not be glamorized or sensationalized and that explicit descriptions should be avoided, and stressing the importance of providing information about help services), but differ in the way in which they have been developed (e.g., the extent to which media professionals have been involved) and implemented (e.g., whether their "roll-out" has involved a considered dissemination strategy). The paper also reviews the evidence from evaluations of media guidelines, and concludes that it is too limited to determine whether the guidelines have had an impact on the behavior of media professionals or on completed and attempted suicide rates. It makes recommendations for further evaluative work, and suggests that the lessons from well-designed evaluations should be shared.

Social-Environmental Factors and Suicide Mortality: A Narrative Review of over 200 Articles

“…This review also found substantially more imitative effects for female suicide rates than male rates, and less likelihood of imitative effects in younger or middle aged groups. The association between media reporting and suicide is also dependent on the length of time between the occurrence of the suicide and publishing of the story, the number of media sources covering the event, and the specific characteristics of case (Pirkis et al, 2006). Recent research by Niederkrotenthaler and colleagues (2010) reports that printed media articles that focused on specific suicide deaths and "myths" of suicide had a detrimental effect, while those articles on coping behaviours and suicide ideation (not accompanied by suicidal behaviours) were not associated with an increase in suicide.…”

“…Media guidelines for the reporting of suicide are commonly included in national intervention efforts because of the concern that insensitive descriptions may result in an increase in suicide deaths (Cheng, Hawton, Lee, & Chen, 2007;Fu & Yip, 2007;Pirkis, Blood, Beautrais, Burgess, & Skehans, 2006;Stack, A. MILNER ET AL. 2009). There is some evidence to support this perspective, as recent research papers identify an increase in suicide rates after damaging media reports (Chen et al, 2010;Chen, Chen, & Yip, 2011;Fu, Chan, & Yip, 2011;Gould, 2001;Hagihara, Tarumi, & Abe, 2007;Niederkrotenthaler & Sonneck, 2007;Pirkis & Blood, 2001aStack, 2005;Sudak & Sudak, 2005;Tsai & Cho, 2011).…”

The association between suicide deaths and putatively harmful and protective factors in media reports

“…[22][23][24] Worldwide, numerous guidelines have been developed to advise the media on best practices. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Exposure to media reporting on suicide can lead to suicide contagion and, in some circumstances, may also lead to help-seeking behaviour.…”

Towards a shared understanding: Perspectives from Toronto’s first media forum for suicide prevention

“…In acknowledgement of these issues, media reporting guidelines with similar content have been developed around the world, including in Canada. 10,11 Evidence suggests that media reports often focus on immediate factors involved in suicide death and omit mention of important underlying treatable causes, such as mental disorders or substance misuse. 7 This emphasis belies the complexity of the issues that contribute to suicide death.…”