Research has demonstrated that news and fictional depictions of suicide can have a role in the rate of suicide. When media shows responsible, conidered material related to suicide the media can help to encourage help seeking, dispel myths, and reinforce hope – ultimately save lives. While negative depictions can serve to increase harmful behaviours, reduce help seeking and lead to an acceptance of suicide within communities as unpreventable.
Below are a number of helpful resources directed at media organisations which demonstrate the effective means to handle suicide related content, in a way that supports suicide prevention efforts. As we want to share the most effective materials, some of the suggested resources below are international, and therefore may reference aspects which do not match fully to a UK audience. However where a resource is from another country we endeavour to make sure that this is highlighted so that you can find the right resources for you.
For news organisations
- The Samaritans Media Guidelines - The Samaritans
- Guidelines for journalists reporting suicide - Papyrus-UK
- Guidance on reporting suicide - IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation)
- Reporting on suicide website (US)
- National Recommendations for Depicting Suicide - The Action Alliance (US)
- Why suicide reporting guidelines matter - NAMI (US) (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
For entertainment media organisations
-
Preventing Suicide: a resource for filmmakers and others working on stage and screen - WHO (International)
- National Recommendations for Depicting Suicide - The Action Alliance (US)
- Suicide and the entertainment media critical review - (Aus) This critical review was written by Jane Pirkis and Warwick Blood. The
work was commissioned by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health as part of the Mindframe National Media Initiative, with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.