Reportage
The following stories cover suicide and/or self-harm. To share your opinion of these stories and discuss reportage of suicide and self-harm in the media, visit the LIFE discussion forums.
News reports
Title:
Weighing up the risks of reporting suicide
Date: February 16, 2010
Outlet: ABC: The Drum
Synopsis: This story discusses some of the issues relating to Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry's recent calls for a softening of the media guidelines for reporting suicide.
Read more
Title:
Australian study of suicide shows cultural differences
Date: February 9, 2010
Outlet: People's Daily Online
Synopsis: This story discusses an Australian study that argues Indian youths may be more likely to follow through on their suicidal thoughts than Australian or Italian youths.
Read more
Title:
Waitress's suicide puts focus on media
Date: February 9, 2010
Outlet: ABC Online
Synopsis: This story discusses youth mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry's suggestion that suicide reporting media guidelines may be too conservative in light of the coverage of the recent death by suicide of Melbourne waitress Brodie Panlock.
Read more
Title: Fixing the Gap
Date: January 8, 2010
Outlet: The 7:30 Report
Synopsis: This story discusses the Woollahra Council's plans to upgrade safety measures at The Gap, a famous tourist location in Sydney's East.
Read more
Title: Suicide can be stopped: Lifeline's message
Date: January 5, 2010
Outlet: The Sydney Morning Herald
Synopsis: This story highlights new research undertaken by Lifeline Australia revealing that one quarter of surveyed adults reportedly believe suicide is "not preventable."
Read more
Title: Research on suicide detailed by scientists at Charles Darwin University
Date: January 4, 2010
Outlet: NewsRx
Synopsis: This story discusses new research analysing suicide data in the Northern Territory between 2001 and 2006.
Read more
Title: Christmas suicide risk
Date: December 18, 2009
Outlet: AM (ABC Radio)
Synopsis: This is a transcript of a story about suicide risk in young men in the lead up to Christmas.
Read more
Title:
The stigma of mental illness
Date: November 15, 2009
Outlet: The Guardian
Synopsis: This opinion piece discusses stigma-related issues regarding mental illness in the context of the recent death by suicide of German goalkeeper Robert Enke.
Read more
Title:
Suicide Toll Fuels Worry That Army Is Strained
Date: November 3, 2009
Outlet: The Wall Street Journal
Synopsis: Discusses the high number of American soldiers who have recently died by suicide and subsequent mental health concerns regarding the nation's military personnel.
Read more
Title: Bullied teen's death preventable: inquest
Date: October 21, 2009
Outlet: ninemsn
Synopsis: Reports on the inquest being held into the suicide of a 14 year old boy. The boy was subject to bullying at school prior to his suicide.
Read more
Title: Suicide victims remembered
Date: September 15, 2009
Outlet: Noosa News
Synopsis: Reports on the candlelight vigil and the local Standby Support Service, which provides support for those who have been bereaved by suicide.
Read more
Title: Mixed message on young adult deaths: Global mortality report
Date: September 12, 2009
Outlet: The Australlian
Synopsis: Reports on mortality of young people, causes of which include suicide.
Read more
Title: WA moves to tackle suicide rate
Date: September 10, 2009
Outlet: ABC News
Synopsis: This article reports on the WA government's new suicide prevention approach, and features responses to the plan from various stakeholders.
Read more
Title: World Suicide Prevention Day: 10 September 2009
Date: September 9, 2009
Outlet: Scoop Independent News
Synopsis: Summarises some of the key concerns regarding suicide and refers to a press release from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry in response to World Suicide Prevention Day 2009.
Read more
Title: Schools must do better to ensure physical and emotional well-being of students
Date: September 8, 2009
Outlet: Examiner
Synopsis: This article argues that schools need to do more to promote students' physical and emotional health and presents two cases of young boys who were victims of school bullying and llater completed suicide.
Read more
Title: Girl's death linked to cyber bullying
Date: July 21, 2009
Outlet: NineMSN
Synopsis: This article discusses the suicide of a 14-year-old student of Geelong's Western Heights College, who became the fourth current or former student there to take their life in the past six months.
Read more
Title:
More suicides uncovered among overseas students
Date: July 2, 2009
Outlet: The Sydney Morning Herald
Synopsis: This article discusses the growing pattern of suicides among international students in Australia, and the calls being made for better reporting systems for their deaths.
Read more
Title:
Decreasing suicide rate may rebound: psychologists
Date: June 8, 2009
Outlet: Lateline (ABC)
Synopsis: This story discusses the huge reduction in Australia’s suicide rate over the past decade, which the program labels 'an extraordinary public health achievement' that has 'received little publicity.' Reporter John Stewart goes on to explore the possibility that amid bad economic times the suicide rate may begin to climb again. Stewart speaks to Anna Mckenzie (Reach Out project manager), Professor Ian Hickie and Melbourne University student Doug Millen.
Read more
Title:
Workload blamed for junior doctor's suicide
Date: 13 March 2009
Publication: ABC News
Synopsis: This article discusses the recent suicide of a junior doctor from Wagga Wagga. The doctor's friends blame the strenous hospital working conditions for the young man's suicide. Experts from the Australian Medical Association say this is not an isolated case.
Read more
Title:
Magistrate implicates agencies in van suicide
Date: 21 January 2009
Publication: The Canberra Times
Synopsis: This article discusses the recent suicide of a Canberra woman (who was discovered dead in the back of a prison van) in the context of Magistrate Grant Lalor’s claims that there had been 'a critical failure in the flow of information between agencies in the justice system.'
Read more
Title:
No one to watch over him
Date: 1 November 2008
Publication: The Age
Synopsis: This article discusses the death of Bayden Smith, a 47-year-old Australian man who died by suicide after being assessed as ‘low-risk’ by two emergency mental health workers.
To discuss this issue and others, become a member of the LIFE Professional Development Network and visit the LIFE discussion forums.
Read more
Title:
Fewer committing suicide but elderly men at greatest risk
Date: 1 August 2008
Publication: The Australian
Synopsis: This article looks at the falling national suicide rate and the greater risk prevalent in men - particularly elderly men - of dying by suicide. It also incorporates information about the new Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) Framework.
Read more
Title:
Nine broke rules on girl suicide report
Date: 4 June 2008
Publication: Herald Sun
Synopsis: A 60 MINUTES program about two Melbourne teenage girls who died by suicide has breached regulatory safeguards for suicide reporting, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found.
Read more
StigmaWatch
SANE StigmaWatch monitors media portrayals of mental illness and suicide, to ensure they are accurate and respectful. It takes the media to task when these topics are covered inaccurately or irresponsibly, and – through the ‘Good News’ area – congratulates them on good coverage. If you would like to report inaccurate or inappropriate coverage of mental illness or suicide in the media - be it TV, radio, magazine, print or advertising - contact StigmaWatch at:
www.sane.org.au
SANE Australia
PO Box
226
South Melbourne
VIC 3205
media@sane.org.au