Fears over media as 6% of suicides are copycat acts
With suicide remaining the biggest cause of death among men and women under the age of 35 in Ireland, there is concern that some media reporting of suicide may influence those already vulnerable.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is urging the media not to sensationalise someone taking their own life.
The head of the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention Geoff Day said research suggested that copycat suicides accounted for 6% of all suicides and that imitative behaviour could follow certain coverage in both the print and broadcast media.
“This represents a significant number of deaths which might be easily prevented,” he said.
He pointed out that a paracetamol overdose depicted on the British medical drama Casualty resulted in a 17% increase in the rate of self-poisoning.
In a bid to reduce the likelihood of copycat actions, the HSE, together with the Samaritans and the Irish Association of Suicidology, have produced a new set of guidelines for the media.
“While suicide is a legitimate subject for media coverage and reportage, certain types of portrayals and reporting are potentially harmful and can act as a catalyst to influence the behaviour of those already vulnerable,” said Mr Day.
The media are advised against giving suicides prominent coverage, publishing dramatic photographs or implying that positive results can be gained from suicide.
Mr Day said there was a particularly distressful schoolgirl suicide reported recently in the tabloid press. He thought it was inappropriate that both the location and the method was described on the front page of the newspaper.
Mr Day said the media had a very positive role to play in encouraging young people to come forward and talk if they are in trouble.
*The Samaritans offer 24-hour confidential emotional support to people in distress and at risk of suicide on 1850 609090. Information is also available at www.samaritans.org.
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