First, let's understand there are often multiple suicide triggers, including unrecognized and/or untreated mental health/psychiatric illness which leads an individual to engage in self-medicating themselves from their unrecognized/untreated MH issues. MH issues/substances are present in an estimated 90% of people who died by suicide.
Second, copycat suicide is a small, but troubling, phenomenon. Research suggests that at least 2% to 3% of all suicides fall into this category and that youth are at greatest risk.
These facts are not presented in media reporting!
The risk of contemplating suicide might escalate on the anniversary of the relevant disaster and the more details the media report about a specific suicide, the greater the risk that a vulnerable person might also consider taking his or her own life. that doesn't mean that the media shouldn't report the narrative, but minimizing the details of the event and recommended that suicides not be sensationalized or given prominence.
Another concedpt is to not over-memorialize a suicide as a vulnerable person may overreact to the outpouring of support and honor paid to the person who has died and in the wake of such tributes, an unstable person, possibly with a MH/substance issue, may see suicide as a way to garner the same accolades for themselves.
A group, the Action Alliance, has for the first time implored media Hollywood, etc., to change their portrayal of suicide in a reality based concept instead of strictly shock and awe:
Convey that suicide is complex and often caused by multiple factors
Portray characters with suicidal thoughts who do not go on to die by suicide
Avoid showing or describing the details about suicide methods
Use nonjudgmental language
Connect viewers to resources
Counseling resources normally after an event:
ARC
FEMA
Community resources.
Loved ones/friends need to be open to the signs of suicide which have been discussed on this forum several times.
[paraphrased from Three Suicides Tied to School Gun Violence: Experts Speak Out - Medscape - Apr 02, 2019.
Second, copycat suicide is a small, but troubling, phenomenon. Research suggests that at least 2% to 3% of all suicides fall into this category and that youth are at greatest risk.
These facts are not presented in media reporting!
The risk of contemplating suicide might escalate on the anniversary of the relevant disaster and the more details the media report about a specific suicide, the greater the risk that a vulnerable person might also consider taking his or her own life. that doesn't mean that the media shouldn't report the narrative, but minimizing the details of the event and recommended that suicides not be sensationalized or given prominence.
Another concedpt is to not over-memorialize a suicide as a vulnerable person may overreact to the outpouring of support and honor paid to the person who has died and in the wake of such tributes, an unstable person, possibly with a MH/substance issue, may see suicide as a way to garner the same accolades for themselves.
A group, the Action Alliance, has for the first time implored media Hollywood, etc., to change their portrayal of suicide in a reality based concept instead of strictly shock and awe:
Convey that suicide is complex and often caused by multiple factors
Portray characters with suicidal thoughts who do not go on to die by suicide
Avoid showing or describing the details about suicide methods
Use nonjudgmental language
Connect viewers to resources
Counseling resources normally after an event:
ARC
FEMA
Community resources.
Loved ones/friends need to be open to the signs of suicide which have been discussed on this forum several times.
[paraphrased from Three Suicides Tied to School Gun Violence: Experts Speak Out - Medscape - Apr 02, 2019.
