The newsworthiness of suicide

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2007 Jun;37(3):278-83. doi: 10.1521/suli.2007.37.3.278.

Abstract

There is a paucity of studies examining which suicides are considered news-worthy. By combining data on media reports of individuals' suicides with routinely collected suicide data, it was found that 1% of Australian suicides were reported over a 1-year period. There was evidence of over-reporting of suicides by older people and females, and those involving dramatic methods. Reported suicides fell into three groups: suicides reported in a broader context; suicides by celebrities; and suicides involving unusual circumstances/methods. The data suggest a need for media professionals and suicide experts to work together to balance newsworthiness against the risk of copycat behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Media*
  • Middle Aged
  • Suicide* / statistics & numerical data