Some media coverage of suicide better than none, says coroner

A county coroner has said that some media coverage of suicide is better than none at all.

Wilfred Hoover said important concerns about copycat suicides must be balanced with the need for communities to be aware that there is a problem and help out as best they can.

He made his comments in the context of rising rates of suicide in Co Westmeath, with eight out of 18 inquests held in the first quarter of this year returning a verdict of death by suicide.