More than 50 research studies worldwide have found that certain types of news coverage can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals. The magnitude of the increase is related to the amount, duration and prominence of coverage.
As organizational leaders, we can and should learn from these media studies and shape our written and verbal communication in a preventive way.
Media Lesson 1: Don’t Sensationalize
Media Guidelines
Risk of additional suicides increases when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic/graphic headlines or images and/or features repeated/extensive coverage that sensationalizes or glamorizes a death.
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. When reporting news of a suicide, be careful to:
- Use non-sensationalized language and life-giving terms.
- Avoid images that glamorize the death such as photos/videos of the location or method of death or grieving family and friends.
- Be mindful in your approach to headlines. Graphic headlines such as “Kurt Cobain Used Shotgun to Commit Suicide” would be better drafted as “Kurt Cobain Dead at 27.”
Leadership Application
Talk about suicide in a way that assumes the recipient will handle the information in a mature, responsible, life-giving way. When dealing with youth, adults have a tendency to avoid any reference to suicide – the rationale being, “We didn’t want to give them the idea.”
Wrong! They already have the idea…especially immediately following a death by suicide within their social circle. Avoiding the topic lends it negative power. Discussing suicide carefully, even briefly, can change public misperceptions and correct myths, which can encourage those who are vulnerable or at risk to seek help.
It is better to fully acknowledge the loss but emphasize what is being done to support those who are impacted. Change your language from “committed suicide” or “successful/unsuccessful suicide” to “died by suicide” or “completed suicide.”
Media Lesson 2: Avoid Misinformation – Provide Education
Media Guidelines
Avoid reporting that death by suicide was preceded by a single event, such as a recent job loss, divorce or bad grades. Also, avoid describing a suicide as inexplicable or “without warning.” Reporting like this leaves the public with an overly simplistic and misleading understanding of suicide.
Leadership Application
Suicide is complex. There are almost always multiple causes, including psychiatric illnesses that may not have been recognized or treated. However, these illnesses are treatable. Refer to research findings that 90% of people who have died by suicide had mental and/or substance use disorders.
Most, but not all, people who die by suicide exhibit warning signs. Identify a list of common suicide warning signs. Consider quoting a suicide prevention expert on causes and treatments.
Media Lesson 3: Don’t Share Inflammatory Information
Media Guidelines
Do not cite the content of the suicide note or any “manifesto.” Better would be: “a note from the deceased was found and is being reviewed by the medical examiner.”
Leadership Application
Communicate, communicate, communicate, but determine what content to ultimately share on a “what is helpful/need to know” basis. Thoughtful leaders should always prioritize respectful adherence to the needs and wishes of the family.
Media Lesson 4: Offer Hope
Media Guidelines
Use your story as an opportunity to inform readers about the causes of suicide, its warning signs, trends in suicide rates and recent treatment advances. Include means of accessing resources.
Leadership Application
Knowledge offers healthy power. Have a hopeful, caring, life-giving tone. Talk about available treatment options. Share stories of those who overcame a suicidal crisis. Offer resources for help. Emphasize faith practice and spiritual strength. Include up-to-date local and/or national resources where people can find treatment, information and advice that promotes help-seeking.
Following a death by suicide, we all become “first responders.” Rather than allowing ourselves to become overwhelmed by such a tragedy, let us focus our efforts on preventing further tragedies.
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