Media reporting of suicides, especially of celebrity suicides is associated with an increase in suicide rates among the general public. Therefore, responsible communication is essential.

The “suicide contagion” is real with more than 50 research studies worldwide claiming that certain types of news coverage can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals. Hence, there are a series of guidelines for reporting suicides.

According to the Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide (https://reportingonsuicide.org/recommendations/) risk of additional suicides increases when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic, graphic headlines or images, and repeated, extensive coverage sensationalises or glamorises a death. Suicide contagion, or “copycat suicide,” occurs when one or more suicides are reported in a way that contributes to another suicide.

It says covering suicide carefully, even briefly, can change public misperceptions and correct myths, which can encourage those who are vulnerable or at risk to seek help.

According to a paper published in National Alliance on Mental Health (https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/June-2018/Why-Suicide-Reporting-Guidelines-Matter), the main message of any article, video or TV show about suicide should be to encourage people to get help when they need it and where to look for that help by including local and national hotline numbers or other crisis resources.

Table of Contents

The NAMH recommendations are:

Inform, don’t sensationalise

Don’t include suicide in the headline. For example, “Kate Spade Dead at 55.”

Don’t use images of the location or method of death, grieving loved ones, memorials, or funerals; instead use school, work or family photos. If there was a note from the deceased, do not detail what the note contained or refer to it as a “suicide note.”

Choose your words carefully

When describing research or studies on suicide, use words like “increase” or “rise” rather than “epidemic” or “skyrocketing.” Do not refer to suicide as “successful,” “unsuccessful” or a “failed attempt.” Do not use the term “committed suicide.” Instead, use “died by suicide,” “completed suicide,” “killed him/herself,” or “ended his/her life.” Do not describe suicide as “inexplicable” or “without warning.”

Report on suicide as a public health issue

Include the warning signs of suicide and a “what to do” sidebar, if possible.

Do not report on suicide the same way you would report a crime. Seek advice from suicide prevention experts rather than quoting/interviewing police or first responders.