Reporting of Suicide in the NewZealand Media: Content and case study analysis.

Team from the Centre for Mental Health Research, University of Auckland.

Dr Brian McKenna – lead investigator Dr Katey Thom – sociologist Gareth Edwards – service user academic Tony O’Brien – academic clinician Dr Ray Nairn – media analysis expert Ingrid Leary – journalist Expert Reference Group (cultural expertise)

Background – a public health issue

Suicide rate in New Zealand 500 deaths annually Hospitalisations x5 this number annually

Background

Impact of media coverage on suicide Evidence of negative impact of sensational

reporting International guidelines Ministry of Health Guidelines 1999 Coroner’s Act 2006 No New Zealand studies

Research aims

Descriptive baseline account of media reporting

Alignment with Ministry of Health guidelines

Includes five case studies Informed by a similar Australian study- the

Australian media monitoring project Adapted to NZ context

How the study was undertaken

Quantitative description of nature and extent of reporting

Over a 12 month period from August 1st 2008 Newspaper, TV, radio and internet news sites Applied quality indictors to a random 10% of

data Qualitative five case studies (framing

analysis)

Qualitative case studies (framing analysis)

Celebrity New technology Murder-suicide Economic crisis Mental health services

Findings descriptive overview

3,483 items over a 12-month period Spikes in reporting

Bain re-trail. Alleged suicide attempts by a celebrity

Most reporting in the newspapers – 50% Most of completed suicide – 57% in

newspapers

Findings descriptive overview

‘Mass mediated reality’ = ‘official reality’ Culture Gender Suicidal behaviour Method

Findings – quality indicators (10%) Most guidelines followed

Page one and headline exposure. Avoidance of methods Avoidance of visuals

Room for improvements Link to mental illness Overcoming difficulties Help-seeking information

Case study 1

Celebrity Making the ‘unremarkable’, ‘remarkable’ Highlights the ‘worst’ and the ‘best’

Case study 2

Murder- suicide Reporting of murder over rides suicide Except Christchurch event Cultural stereotyping

Case study 3

Economic crisis Predominance of discussions regarding the

wealthy Acceptable response What is the role of mental health in

relationship to these events?

Case study 4

New technology “How to” websites Text bullying Completed suicide filmed on the internet Technology out of control Problem not solution based reporting

Case study 5

Mental health services Apportioning blame Failure of services Missing voice of mental health services

Discussion – but the reporting is good overall !!!

Why? Adhere to guidelines Adhere to Coroners Act Good ethical reporting is the norm

Discussion – do we need the Guidelines?

To assist new professionals To maintain professional standards Need reviewing – research difficulty Collaborative review Must be driven by journalists

Discussion – do we need Coroner’s Act control?

Chief Coroner has opened the debate Will more information assist in prevention? Are guidelines for Coroner’s needed?

The full report is available publicly from the Te Pou website