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People at risk of suicide frequently communicate suicidal thoughts to professionals and non-professionals. These groups, therefore, need to be aware of how best to respond. We aimed to identify helpful and unhelpful responses to communications of suicide risk from the perspective of those at risk to inform suicide prevention messaging and education. We conducted an online survey (n = 141) of members of an online reference group for an Australian mental health organisation with a history of suicide risk. Most respondents had repeatedly considered and attempted suicide. Indirect suicide communications were more common than direct communications. Listening without judgement was the most common helpful response and "minimizing" responses to suicidal thoughts and feelings, the most common unhelpful responses. We make recommendations for suicide prevention messages and professional education content based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are worldwide concerns that pro-suicide web sites may trigger suicidal behaviors among vulnerable individuals. In 2006, Australia became the first country to criminalize such sites, sparking heated debate. Concerns were expressed that the law casts the criminal net too widely; inappropriately interferes with the autonomy of those who wish to die; and has jurisdictional limitations, with off-shore web sites remaining largely immune. Conversely, proponents point out that the law may limit access to domestic pro-suicide web sites, raise awareness of Internet-related suicide, mobilize community efforts to combat it, and serve as a powerful expression of societal norms about the promotion of suicidal behavior.

Articles describing a relationship between the pandemic and suicide trends published from 1 March to 31 July 2020, the intrapandemic period for which suicide data was available during study planning, were the main focus of the study. A coding scheme was used to abstract specific article themes and media portrayals, focusing on the nature of discussed suicide trends in order to compare media reports with actual observations (Table 1). Keywords: suicide; pandemic; coronavirus disease 2019; media reporting EN suicide pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 media reporting 64 66 3 12/06/22 20230101 NES 230101 Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic initially raised concerns about increased suicides, particularly due to stressors such as unemployment, financial strain, and social disconnectedness, however data from the earliest months of the pandemic generally showed no increases, including in three Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba) (see Supplemental file).[1],[2] Experts have recommended cautious media reporting about the pandemic's potential effects on suicides,[3] as suicide-related media discussions can influence population-level behavior.[4] Specifically, reporters have been advised against presenting unbalanced, pessimistic statements about the pandemic's impact on suicides, as such messages may increase suicide risk.[3] In contrast, stories of hope and recovery that present suicide as preventable may be protective.[3],[4] The current study aimed to investigate whether reports of the pandemic's effect on suicides were presented in a cautious and responsible manner by major Canadian media organizations both nationally and in the three provinces for which suicide data was available during study planning. [Extracted from the article]

There is a paucity of studies examining which suicides are considered newsworthy. 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.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.11.033 Byline: Jane E. Pirkis (a), Philip M. Burgess (b), Catherine Francis (a), R. Warwick Blood (c), Damien J. Jolley (d) Keywords: Suicide; Media; 'copycat' behaviours; Imitation.; Australia Abstract: This study aimed to determine whether media items about suicide were associated with differential increases in actual suicides. Data were available on 4635 suicide-related items appearing in Australian newspapers and on radio and television news and current affairs shows between March 2000 and February 2001. These data were combined with national data on completed suicides occurring during the same period, by a process that involved identifying the date and geographical reach of the media items and determining the number of suicides occurring in the same location in selected weeks pre- and post-item. Regression analyses were conducted to determine whether the likelihood of an increase in post-item suicides could be explained by particular item characteristics. We found that 39% of media items were followed by an increase in male suicides, and 31% by an increase in female suicides. Media items were more likely to be associated with increases in both male and female suicides if they occurred in the context of multiple other reports on suicide (versus occurring in isolation), if they were broadcast on television (versus other media), and if they were about completed suicide (versus attempted suicide or suicidal ideation). Different item content appeared to be influential for males and females, with an increase in male suicides being associated with items about an individual's experience of suicide and opinion pieces, and an increase in female suicides being associated with items about mass- or murder-suicide. Item prominence and quality were not differentially associated with increases in male or female suicides. Further research on this topic is required, but in the meantime there is a need to remain vigilant about how suicide news is reported. Mental health professionals and suicide experts should collaborate with media professionals to try to balance 'public interest' against the risk of harm. Author Affiliation: (a) University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (b) University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (c) University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia (d) Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia