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JAELEA SKEHANPresentation
Mindframe
Talking about suicide: Supporting safe and responsible reporting of suicide in the
media
• A leading national organisation dedicated to reducing mental illness and suicide and improving wellbeing for all Australians
• Based in Newcastle, New South Wales– Established locally, working nationally
Hunter Institute of Mental Health
• Talking about suicide– Rates and trends in Australia
• Conversations Matter – How can we talk about suicide safely and effectively in
communities?
• Mindframe National Media Initiative – Risks and opportunities of media reporting suicide– Working with the media
Overview
Talking about suicide
When talking about suicide, it is important to be accurate and know about the most reliable and current
information.
How much do we know about current rates of suicide in Australia?
So what are the suicide trends in this country?
Is the problem getting worse?
Suicide is an important issue of community concern
Often confusion about what is meant by “discussing” or “talking about” suicide, and confusion about the evidence
Need to ensure we are not “too afraid” to talk about suicide, while respecting and understanding the risks.
Talking about suicide
We know:
• Talking to someone, one-on-one, directly about suicide will not increase their suicide risk (although the empirical evidence is weak);
• Media reporting of suicide deaths has been associated with increased risk for those who are vulnerable to suicide;
We don’t know:
• Whether group presentation about suicide will increase or decrease suicide risk (e.g. evidence from schools);
• Whether more general media reporting about suicide (or awareness campaigns) will increase or decrease risk.
What we do and don’t know
Practical online resources to support safe and effective community discussions about suicide.
The resources assist communities and professionals when:– They want to know how to talk about suicide more generally– They are worried about someone and want to know what to say– There has been a death and they want to know how best to handle
individual and community level conversations
The Mindframe National Media Initiative collaborates with the Australian media and other sectors to encourage responsible, accurate and sensitive portrayal of mental illness and suicide.With the aim of:• Promoting suicide prevention and mental
health promotion• Reducing risk to audiences• Decreasing stigma and discrimination
associated with mental illness.
Mindframe National Media Initiative
The Mindframe Approach
Potentially includes 4 broad groups:1. Not affected and not interested2. Some level of interest;3. Vulnerable, at risk4. Bereaved.
Understanding the target audience for media about suicide
• Reporting about suicide deaths has been associated with increased rates of suicide and suicide attempts using the same method or location and increased rates of suicide overall.
• People vulnerable to suicide may be drawn to stories about suicide and negatively impacted by these.
Impact of media reporting of suicide
Risk generally increases when reporting:• Details method and
location• Sensationalises suicide• Is prominent and repeated • Focuses on an individual
who has died (especially celebrities)
• Glamourises or glorifies the death
Impact of media reporting of suicide
• Reduce risk by supporting media to:– Report on method in general terms only
• e.g. ‘cocktail of drugs’ instead of detailing type and quantity of medication
– Remove specific details about new or unusual methods
– Describe location in general terms only• e.g. ‘at a nearby park’ rather than detailing
the exact location– Avoid use of detailed or dramatic photographs
or footage • e.g. images of people standing on ledges or
implements used to cause harm
Method and location
Language
The media has a role to play in raising awareness of suicide as a public health issue and prevention behaviourTo decrease risk it may be helpful to: • Provide context• Frame suicide as a tragic, avoidable
loss • Focus on the negative impact on
others• Explore stories of overcoming suicidal
ideation• Promote help-seeking information
Media’s role in suicide prevention
Helpful messages can include:– Increase understanding of risk
factors and warning signs – Information about social and
emotional wellbeing – Stories of hope and recovery– Information about support that
is available
Working with the media
Helpful messages can assist to:• Improve community understanding • Correct myths and stereotypes • Reduce the fear, shame and stigma • Increase understanding of the
challenges experienced by someone living with a mental illness or caring for someone with a mental illness
• Encourage people to seek help
Working with the media
• Media, mental health and suicide prevention sectors are already highly engaged
• Additional considerations:– Two way communication– Duty of care– User-generated content– Live blogging of events– International media• Different reporting standards
Social Media
• Supporting the media is essential in suicide prevention• As social media continues to grow so must the sector (including
research)
Look after yourselves
Discussing these issues can be distressing.
If you need support speak to someone you trust or contact a support service
Lifeline 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
Final words