1
|
Ju Y, Scherr S, Arendt F, You M, Prieler M. Little Strokes Fell Big Oaks: How Repeated Recommendations for Suicide Reporting Drive the Quality of Suicide News in South Korea. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2024:302228241228007. [PMID: 38247392 DOI: 10.1177/00302228241228007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates how far repeated releases of recommendations for responsible reporting on suicide (RRS) are associated with changes in the quality of suicide reporting. A content analysis was conducted on suicide news articles (N = 606) by the Korean newspapers Hankyoreh Sinmun and Chosun Ilbo in four six-month periods from 2004 to 2019, which covered the periods before and after the releases of three versions of suicide reporting guidelines. Elements for RRS served as a proxy for the reporting quality, which includes both avoiding negative elements and providing positive ones. Not only the number of suicide news stories reduced by half in the last two observation periods, overall RRS scores and most individual RRS elements increased in the third period, compared to the first or second period. The avoidance RRS for headline, however, was not significantly improved. Korean news media also tended to be sensationalistic in using photos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youngkee Ju
- The Media School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Sebastian Scherr
- Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research, Department of Media, Knowledge, and Communication, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Department of Communication & Journalism, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Florian Arendt
- Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Myoungsoon You
- Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Davico C, Arletti L, Silverio G, Marcotulli D, Ricci FS, Amianto F, Vitiello B. Suicide in the press: an analysis of newspaper coverage of adolescent versus adult suicides in Italy. Eur Psychiatry 2024; 67:e9. [PMID: 38228324 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An association between sensationalized media reporting and subsequent increase in suicidal behavior has been documented, and adolescents are especially vulnerable to imitative influences. The aims of this study were to examine the characteristics of the articles reporting adult and adolescent (under age 18) suicides in the Italian press and to assess adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for responsible reporting. Methods: The print versions of the three newspapers with the widest national distribution in Italy were searched for all the articles on incident suicides printed over a 7-month period (July 2022 to February 2023). Articles were examined for adherence to the WHO guidelines. Results: Overall, 213 articles were identified, reporting on 122 individual suicide cases (88.5% adults and 11.5% adolescents). Of the articles, 78.9% were on adults and 21.1% on adolescents, with a ratio articles/suicide cases of 1.6 for adults and 3.2 for adolescents (p < 0.0001). Adolescent suicide articles had more words (mean 612.5 ± SD 275.6) than adult ones (462.1 ± 267.7, p = 0.001). Potentially harmful reporting features were present in both the adult and adolescent articles (12-82%). Few articles (0-15%) included protective features. Articles on adolescents were more adherent to the WHO guidelines for omitting specific information of suicide method and location. Conclusions: Significant differences were found in the press reporting of adolescent versus adult suicides, with adolescent suicides receiving more attention in terms of the number of articles and article length. Suicide press reporting can be improved. A close collaboration between journalists and suicide prevention experts may be beneficial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Davico
- Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Luca Arletti
- Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Silverio
- Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Daniele Marcotulli
- Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica S Ricci
- Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Benedetto Vitiello
- Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Matin AM, Boie ET, Moore GP. Survival after self-poisoning with sodium nitrite: A case report. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2022; 3:e12702. [PMID: 35342896 PMCID: PMC8931305 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sodium nitrite ingestion poses a considerable public health threat. The incidence of sodium nitrite self-poisoning in the United States has been trending upward since 2017. Our case report describes an intentional sodium nitrite ingestion with favorable outcomes. We highlight the proper treatment of this ingestion with intravenous methylene blue. Sodium nitrite is an oxidizing agent that is commonly found in processed meats, fish, and cheeses as a preservative, antimicrobial, and food coloring agent. It is an odorless, white crystalline powder that has been confused for table salt or granulated sugar. It has become more readily available in large quantities online. Unfortunately, online forums exist that detail how to dose sodium nitrite for suicide. Furthermore, it has been recently discussed in popular news streams after a celebrity died of an overdose. Sodium nitrite toxicity is capable of causing severe methemoglobinemia with high mortality. Prompt identification is crucial. We discuss the important implications in regard to media coverage, imitative suicide, and accessibility of sodium nitrite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adiba M. Matin
- Department of Emergency MedicineMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Eric T. Boie
- Department of Emergency MedicineMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Gregory P. Moore
- Department of Emergency MedicineMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sorensen CC, Lien M, Harrison V, Donoghue JJ, Kapur JS, Kim SH, Tran NT, Joshi SV, Patel SG. The Tool for Evaluating Media Portrayals of Suicide (TEMPOS): Development and Application of a Novel Rating Scale to Reduce Suicide Contagion. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:2994. [PMID: 35270688 PMCID: PMC8910134 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests that media adherence to suicide reporting recommendations in the aftermath of a highly publicized suicide event can help reduce the risk of imitative behavior, yet there exists no standardized tool for assessing adherence to these standards. The Tool for Evaluating Media Portrayals of Suicide (TEMPOS) allows media professionals, researchers, and suicide prevention experts to assess adherence to the recommendations with a user-friendly, standardized rating scale. An interdisciplinary team of raters constructed operational definitions for three levels of adherence to each of the reporting recommendations and piloted the scale on a sample of articles to assess reliability and clarify scale definitions. TEMPOS was then used to evaluate 220 news articles published during a high-risk period following the suicide deaths of two public figures. Post-hoc analyses of the results demonstrated how data produced by TEMPOS can be used to inform research and public health efforts, and inter-rater reliability analyses revealed substantial agreement across raters and criteria. A novel, wide-reaching, and practical approach to suicide prevention, TEMPOS allows researchers, suicide prevention professionals, and media professionals to study how adherence varies across contexts and can be used to guide future efforts to decrease the risk of media-induced suicide contagion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Chang Sorensen
- Depression Clinical & Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mego Lien
- Suicide Prevention Program, County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department, San Jose, CA 95128, USA; (M.L.); (J.J.D.)
| | - Vicki Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (J.S.K.); (S.H.K.); (S.V.J.)
| | - John J. Donoghue
- Suicide Prevention Program, County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department, San Jose, CA 95128, USA; (M.L.); (J.J.D.)
| | - Jeevanjot Singh Kapur
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (J.S.K.); (S.H.K.); (S.V.J.)
| | - Song Hi Kim
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (J.S.K.); (S.H.K.); (S.V.J.)
| | - Nhi Thi Tran
- Center for Care Innovations, Oakland, CA 94612, USA;
| | - Shashank V. Joshi
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (J.S.K.); (S.H.K.); (S.V.J.)
| | - Sita G. Patel
- Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Vijayakumar L, Shastri M, Fernandes TN, Bagra Y, Pathare A, Patel A, Jain P, Merchant Y, Armstrong G, Pathare S. Application of a Scorecard Tool for Assessing and Engaging Media on Responsible Reporting of Suicide-Related News in India. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:6206. [PMID: 34201213 PMCID: PMC8230035 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Each year there are more than 800,000 deaths by suicide across the world, while India alone accounts for one third of female suicides and one fourth of male suicides worldwide. Responsible media reporting of suicide is an important suicide prevention intervention at the population level. There is sufficient evidence to show that the way suicide is reported and portrayed in the media can have a significant impact on individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Recognizing the important role of the media in suicide prevention, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidelines for responsible reporting of suicides by the media. The Press Council of India, in 2019 endorsed WHO's guidelines for media reporting of suicides, however there is no evidence that the Indian media is complying with these guidelines. METHODS To encourage responsible media reporting, we developed a scorecard to assess and rate media reports on suicide. We reviewed several resource documents that contained guidelines on responsible reporting of suicide. After consulting with a team of experts, we arrived at a scorecard that consisted of 10 positive and 10 negative parameters. RESULTS We applied the scorecard to 1318 reports on suicide from 9 English language newspapers, with the highest readership in India between the dates of 1 April to 30 June 2020. For the articles analyzed, the average positive score across all newspapers was 1.32 and the average negative score was 3.31. DISCUSSION The scorecard can be a useful tool to assess media reports on suicide and provide metrics for the same. It can facilitate improved monitoring and engagement with media organizations, who can quickly check their own reporting compliance to the WHO guidelines and compare how well they are performing compared to their peers over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Vijayakumar
- Department of Psychiatry, Voluntary Health Services and SNEHA Suicide Prevention Centre, Tamil Nadu 600017, India
| | - Manisha Shastri
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India; (M.S.); (T.N.F.); (Y.B.); (A.P.); (A.P.); (P.J.); (Y.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Tanya Nicole Fernandes
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India; (M.S.); (T.N.F.); (Y.B.); (A.P.); (A.P.); (P.J.); (Y.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Yash Bagra
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India; (M.S.); (T.N.F.); (Y.B.); (A.P.); (A.P.); (P.J.); (Y.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Aaryaman Pathare
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India; (M.S.); (T.N.F.); (Y.B.); (A.P.); (A.P.); (P.J.); (Y.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Arpita Patel
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India; (M.S.); (T.N.F.); (Y.B.); (A.P.); (A.P.); (P.J.); (Y.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Padam Jain
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India; (M.S.); (T.N.F.); (Y.B.); (A.P.); (A.P.); (P.J.); (Y.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Yesha Merchant
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India; (M.S.); (T.N.F.); (Y.B.); (A.P.); (A.P.); (P.J.); (Y.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Gregory Armstrong
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia;
| | - Soumitra Pathare
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India; (M.S.); (T.N.F.); (Y.B.); (A.P.); (A.P.); (P.J.); (Y.M.); (S.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Quarshie ENB, Andoh-Arthur J, Asante KO, Asare-Doku W. Online media reporting of suicidal behaviour in Ghana: Analysis of adherence to the WHO guidelines. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2021; 67:251-259. [PMID: 32418459 PMCID: PMC8107450 DOI: 10.1177/0020764020919787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Irresponsible media reporting of suicide is a potential risk for copycat suicide. There is a paucity of studies from sub-Saharan Africa on the quality of media reporting of suicide. OBJECTIVES We assessed the compliance of Ghanaian online media outlets with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for media reporting of suicide. METHODS We searched 10 local media outlets with strong online presence in Ghana, to identify suicide-related news reports from 2000 through 2019. We applied summative content analysis and chi-square (χ2) test to the data. RESULTS We included 288 news reports, of which 261 (90.6%) were completed suicides, 7 (2.4%) were attempted suicides and 20 (6.9%) were homicide suicides. Most of the news reports failed to comply with the WHO guidelines: 92.7% mentioned the specific method of the suicide act, 82.6% included 'suicide' in the headline and 55.6% included photos of the victims. The χ2 tests indicated that privately owned media outlets were more likely than publicly owned to post a photo of the victim, χ2(1) = 17.37, p < .001, and report the incident location in the headline, χ2(1) = 15.00, p < .001. However, generally, there were no statistically significant relationships between the quality of reporting and media outlet ownership. Each of the 288 reports failed to mention any of the potentially helpful features recommended by the WHO guidelines. CONCLUSION Regardless of the ownership of the media outlet (whether private or publicly owned), mostly, the online reportage of suicidal behaviour in Ghana deviates sharply from the international recommended best practice by the WHO.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie
- School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.,Centre for Suicide and Violence Research (CSVR), Accra, Ghana
| | - Johnny Andoh-Arthur
- Centre for Suicide and Violence Research (CSVR), Accra, Ghana.,Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwaku Oppong Asante
- Centre for Suicide and Violence Research (CSVR), Accra, Ghana.,Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Winifred Asare-Doku
- Centre for Suicide and Violence Research (CSVR), Accra, Ghana.,School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Construction and Validation of an Analytical Grid about Video Representations of Suicide ("MoVIES"). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16152780. [PMID: 31382598 PMCID: PMC6696380 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16152780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background. Exposure to fictional suicide scenes raises concerns about the risk of suicide contagion. However, researchers and clinicians still lack empirical evidence to estimate this risk. Here, we propose a theory-grounded tool that measures properties related to aberrant identification and suicidal contagion of potentially harmful suicide scenes. Methods. The items of the Movies and Video: Identification and Emotions in reaction to Suicide (MoVIES) operationalize the World Health Organization’s recommendations for media coverage of suicide, and were adapted and completed with identification theory principles and cinematographic evidence. Inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s kappa) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) were estimated and optimized for two series of 19 and 30 randomly selected movies depicting a suicide scene. The validity of the scale in predicting identification with the suicidal character was tested in nine unknowledgeable participants who watched seven suicide movie scenes each. Results. The MoVIES indicated satisfying psychometric properties with kappas measured at 0.7 or more for every item and a global internal consistency of [α = 0.05]. The MoVIES score significantly predicted participants’ strength of identification independently from their baseline empathy ((β = 0.20), p < 0.05). Conclusions. The MoVIES is available to scholars as a valid, reliable, and useful tool to estimate the amount of at-risk components of fictional suicidal behavior depicted in films, series, or television shows.
Collapse
|
8
|
Thienel R, Bryant M, Hazel G, Skehan J, Tynan R. Do Australian media apply recommendations when covering a suicide prevention campaign? JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH 2019. [DOI: 10.1108/jpmh-10-2018-0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Media reporting and portrayals of mental illness and suicide can play an important role in shaping and reinforcing community attitudes and perceptions. Depending on the content, a report about suicide can have either a negative (Werther-) or a positive (Papageno-) effect. Evidence-informed recommendations for the reporting of suicide in Australia are provided under the Mindframe initiative. The purpose of this paper is to assess the application of these recommendations in broadcasts associated with one of the largest national campaigns to promote suicide prevention, the R U OK? Day, a yearly campaign of the Australian suicide prevention charity R U OK?
Design/methodology/approach
The sample consisted of 112 (32 TV, 80 radio) Australian broadcasts discussing the R U OK? Day suicide prevention campaign during the month preceding the 2015 campaign and on the national R U OK? Day itself. Broadcasts were coded for medium (TV or radio), content (suicide focus, mental illness focus or both) and consistency with Mindframe recommendations.
Findings
Over 97 per cent of broadcasts used language consistent with Mindframe recommendations. None of the broadcasts used images that negatively portrayed mental illness or suicide; there were no instances of using mental illness to describe a person’s behaviour; and no sensationalizing or glamorising terminology was used in the broadcasts. However, less than 40 per cent of the broadcasts included help-seeking information (e.g. helplines) and some of the broadcasts used negative or outdated terminology (e.g. “commit” suicide; “suffering” from mental illness).
Originality/value
The present study is the first to examine consistency with reporting recommendations around a national suicide prevention campaign (R U OK? Day). The results can steer improvements in current reporting and inform strategies to optimise future reporting.
Collapse
|
9
|
Arendt F. Assessing responsible reporting on suicide in the nineteenth century: Evidence for a high quantity of low-quality news. DEATH STUDIES 2019; 45:305-312. [PMID: 31204892 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2019.1626952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The press may have contributed to suicide as a mass phenomenon during the nineteenth century. There is limited knowledge on how the press reported on suicide. We utilized a content analysis of suicide news during the time period of suicide rate's strong increase in Austria (1855, 1865, 1875, 1885), assessing variables related to the responsible reporting on suicide (RRS). Analyses indicate that the press showed low levels of RRS and the quantity of low-quality reporting increased during the observation period. Although causal claims should be made with caution, the findings are consistent with the idea of a long-term Werther effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Arendt
- Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pridmore S, Pridmore W. Suicide in early China and the current West. Australas Psychiatry 2018; 26:651-654. [PMID: 29926733 DOI: 10.1177/1039856218781013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To characterize suicide in early China, as a means of extending knowledge of this behaviour. METHODS: We examined Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and collated and considered relevant details. RESULTS: In early China, loss of authority/status, loved ones and fortune were triggers for suicide. The expression of the intention to suicide, either by word or action, was observed and elicited a placating response. Less frequent, but nevertheless clearly recorded, were accounts of suicide completed to satisfy the wishes of others. CONCLUSIONS: The suicide and related behaviour of early China shares many features with late Western societies, but one form (to satisfy the wishes of others) is currently undetected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saxby Pridmore
- Professor, Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - William Pridmore
- Student, Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
McTernan N, Spillane A, Cully G, Cusack E, O'Reilly T, Arensman E. Media reporting of suicide and adherence to media guidelines. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2018; 64:536-544. [PMID: 29972096 DOI: 10.1177/0020764018784624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND International research consistently shows evidence for an association between sensationalised and detailed media reporting, and suicidal behaviour. AIM This study examined the quality of media reporting of suicide and adherence to media guidelines in Ireland. METHODS In accordance with the criteria outlined in the media guidelines for reporting suicide, 243 media articles were screened and analysed for quality of reporting of two high-profile cases of suicide and two cases of suicide that became high profile following a period of intense media coverage that occurred between September 2009 and December 2012. RESULTS A minority of articles breached the media guidelines in relation to sensationalised language (11.8%), placement of reports on the front page of the newspaper (9.5%), publishing of inappropriate photographs (4.2%) and mention of location of suicide (2.4%), while no articles disclosed the contents of a suicide note. However, in the majority of articles analysed, journalists did not refer to appropriate support services for people vulnerable to, and at risk of suicide (75.8%) or mention wider issues that are related to suicidal behaviour (53.8%). Overemphasis of community grief (48.3%) was also common. Nearly all articles (99.2%) breached at least one guideline and 58.9% of articles breached three or more guidelines. CONCLUSION Overall, adherence to media guidelines on reporting suicide in Ireland improved in certain key areas from September 2009 until December 2012. Nonetheless, important challenges remain. Increased monitoring by media monitoring agencies, regulators and government departments is required. Implementation should be conducted using a pro-active approach and form part of the curriculum of journalists and editors. The inclusion of guidelines for the reporting of suicidal behaviour in press codes of conduct for journalists warrants consideration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niall McTernan
- 1 National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ailbhe Spillane
- 1 National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,2 School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Grace Cully
- 1 National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,2 School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Eimear Cusack
- 1 National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Theresa O'Reilly
- 1 National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ella Arensman
- 1 National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,2 School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ortiz P, Khin Khin E. Traditional and new media's influence on suicidal behavior and contagion. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2018; 36:245-256. [PMID: 29659071 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The role of nonfictional and fictional media in suicide contagion has been well established, ostensibly beginning with the publication of Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther in 1774. In recent decades, the emergence of several new forms of media (e.g. websites, social media, blogs, smartphone applications) has revolutionized the communication and social interaction paradigms. This article reviews "the Werther effect" (or suicide contagion related to media), special populations who are more influential or susceptible, current media reporting guidelines and their effectiveness, and the latest research on new media and its effect on suicide and suicide contagion. The aim is to update recommendations on how to mitigate the potential negative effects of both traditional and new media on suicidal behavior and suicide contagion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Ortiz
- George Washington University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Eindra Khin Khin
- George Washington University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Scherr S, Arendt F, Schäfer M. Supporting Reporting: On the Positive Effects of Text- and Video-Based Awareness Material on Responsible Journalistic Suicide News Writing. Arch Suicide Res 2017; 21:646-658. [PMID: 27602541 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2016.1222975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Suicide is a global public health problem. Media impact on suicide is well confirmed and there are several recommendations on how media should and should not report on suicide to minimize the risk of copycat behavior. Those media guidelines have been developed to improve responsible reporting on suicide (RRS). Although such guidelines are used in several countries, we lack empirical evidence on their causal effect on actual journalistic news writing. We conducted an experiment with journalism students (N = 78) in Germany in which we tested whether exposure to awareness material promoting RRS influences news writing. As a supplement to the widely used text-based material, we tested the impact of a video in which a suicide expert presents the guidelines. A video was used as a supplement to text partly due to its potential benefit for prevention efforts over the Internet. We chose a low-budget production process allowing easy reproduction in different countries by local suicide experts. In the experiment, participants were either exposed to written, audio-visual, or no awareness material. Afterwards, participants read numerous facts of an ostensible suicide event and were asked to write a factual suicide news story based on these facts. Analyses indicate that awareness material exposure helped to improve RRS with the awareness video showing the strongest effects. We recommend that suicide prevention should use instructive awareness videos about RRS complementary to text-based awareness material.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Scherr
- a Department of Communication Studies and Media Research , LMU Munich , Munich , Germany
| | - Florian Arendt
- a Department of Communication Studies and Media Research , LMU Munich , Munich , Germany
| | - Markus Schäfer
- b Department of Communication , Johannes Gutenberg-University , Mainz , Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Peut-on faire du journaliste un acteur de la prévention du suicide ? Encephale 2016; 42:448-452. [DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2015.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|