Suicide reporting in Swiss print media - Responsible or irresponsible?

Author(s): Michel, K., Valach, L.

Journal/Book: Eur J Public Health. 1997; 7: Walton St, Journals Dept, Oxford, England OX2 6DP. Oxford Univ Press. 15-19.

Abstract: All articles in Swiss newspapers with suicide or attempted suicide as the main topic were collected over a time span of 8 months, The aim was the investigation of a potential imitation effect and the extent of preventive messages given, A rating scheme for an assumed imitation effect based on different items for heading, text and picture was developed. The results show that approximately two-fifths of all 151 articles were inappropriate in some aspects and were considered as bearing a high potential for imitation effect, The rating was significantly more unfavourable for the main Swiss tabloid paper than the other newspapers, A reason for suicide was specified in 41.7% of all articles, half of them in a very simple and monocausal way, Relevant preventive information was only given in 10% of cases, We conclude that media guidelines for suicide reporting are needed, A preventive strategy to influence the policy of suicide reporting in newspapers must primarily concentrate on a few papers with a high circulation (popular press).

Note: Article Frey C, Therapiezentrum Srk Folteropfer, Freiburgstr 44A, CH-3010 Bern, SWITZERLAND

Keyword(s): suicide; attempted suicide; prevention; print media

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