Mindframe online resources assist journalists reporting suicide
Mindframe’s National Media Initiative provides online resources for journalists to assist the reporting of suicide.
The announcement:
With World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) being held on Tuesday 10th September and the R U OK?Day national suicide prevention campaign on Thursday 12th September, it is a timely reminder for media professionals that the Mindframe National Media Initiative has online resources to assist with the reporting of suicide.
Suicide is a complex issue and sensationalist reporting of this subject can impact on vulnerable members of the community. A quick guide to safe reporting can be found here.
Adding help-seeking information to stories (online, print and broadcast) can provide somewhere for people who may be impacted by the coverage to find professional support. A list of 24-hour crisis lines can be found here.
With these events in the public interest, it’s important the media continue to report responsibly, given that repeated and sustained coverage can increase the risk to those who are vulnerable or distressed.
To support the media, Mindframe also has a web page with story sources and contacts and media industry codes and standards on the issue of reporting suicide can be found here.
Further advice on media reporting of suicide and/or mental illness is available from:
The Mindframe project team: (02) 4924 6904, 0427 227 503, mindframe@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
The SANE Media Centre: (03) 9682 5933, 0414 427 291, media@sane.org
Source: Mindframe press release.
