Press release
Minister Butler addresses Promoting Safe and Sensitive Media Reporting of Suicide and Self-harm Conference in Dublin
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Today, 12 September 2024 sees the Promoting of Safe and Sensitive Media Reporting of Suicide and Self-harm Conference draw together 150 attendees from the media, print journalism, mental health services, public relations, and suicide prevention representation and advocacy, to discuss how self-harm and suicide can be reported on safely by media, and how stories of recovery can promote positive mental health and prevent deaths by suicide.
A collaboration between the Department of Health, the World Health Organisation, and the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Office for Suicide Prevention, the event seeks to improve the linkages between mental health experts and media professionals in Ireland. It is co-hosted by Samaritans Ireland and Headline, Ireland’s national programme for responsible reporting and representation of mental health difficulties.
Suicide is a critical global issue, affecting individuals and communities worldwide, and changing the narrative surrounding suicide requires systemic change. In Ireland efforts to address this issue and encourage positive change are being advanced under Connecting for Life, Goal 1 of which seeks to improve the nation’s understanding of and attitudes to suicidal behavior, mental health and wellbeing.
Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler said:
"Preventing deaths by suicide is a priority for me and Government. Stigma remains a significant issue when it comes to mental health difficulties, and this Conference is about shifting from a culture of silence to one of openness, understanding, and support. Suicide presents a complex set of challenges for journalists, and we must support the media to report responsibly on suicide.
"We know that inappropriate or sensationalist media reporting of suicide can lead to a rise in suicide, but on the other hand, stories of hope and overcoming difficulties can have a protective effect for people experiencing distress."
John Meehan, Head of the National Office of Suicide Prevention, said:
"Suicide is complex and, in general, there is no single event or factor that leads someone to take their own life. Effective suicide prevention takes into account many different factors. Connecting for Life, our national suicide reduction strategy emphasises the importance of working with the media and other organisations to achieve a greater understanding of suicide and the factors that protect and improve mental health and reduce stigma.
"This conference offers an opportunity to consider the important role that media reporting can play in suicide prevention, and the importance of the work conducted by organisations like Headline and the Samaritans in this space."
The conference heard from experts including Dr. Khalid Saeed, WHO Regional Adviser for the Eastern Mediterranean, on the latest WHO guidance for media professionals, and Professor Ella Arensman, Chief Scientist at the National Suicide Research Foundation, who outlined the international research and evidence on media reporting of suicide.
The conference also heard discussions on media guidelines, ethics and responsible reporting of suicide; the need to protect the mental health of journalists; and on ensuring authenticity, representation and real voices in the media. Contributors included the Press Ombudsperson Susan McKay, Sarah Johnston of The Guardian, David Doran, Editor of RTÉ Investigates Unit, Alan Bradley, documentary maker, Malachy Clerkin, sports journalist, and Geraldine and Redmond Murphy, parents of Red Óg Murphy.
Connecting for Life is Ireland’s current National Strategy to Reduce Suicide. It is a coordinated, multifaceted strategy to reduce deaths by suicide and incidents of self-harm. The Strategy has seven goals, with 69 actions, most of which are delivered by the HSE, and it has two principal objectives:
The HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is responsible for its implementation, overseen by a Cross-Sectoral Implementation and Monitoring Steering Group (SG), chaired by the Department of Health, with representation from cross governmental departments, agencies and NGO partners.
Action 1.4 of the Strategy is to engage and work collaboratively with the media on media guidelines, tools and training programmes to improve the reporting of suicidal behaviour across broadcast, print and online media.
Headline (a programme of Shine) is Ireland’s national programme for responsible reporting of suicide, and representation of mental ill health. The Headline programme promotes accurate and responsible coverage of mental health-related issues, including suicide and mental illness, in accordance with international media guidelines. Headline conducts media monitoring, analysing articles specifically related to suicide and mental health to ensure adherence to media guidelines. Set up in 2007, Headline has monitored 100,000’s of articles on suicide, self-harm and mental ill health, flagging content considered potentially harmful, as well as increasing awareness of media guidelines produced by the WHO and the Samaritans. Headline recognise examples of good reporting on mental health through their Mental Health Media Awards, and the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health journalism in the Republic of Ireland.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched the fourth version of their media guidelines for reporting on suicide: “Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals”. This resource is a tool to aid responsible media reporting on suicide, highlighting the role played by the media in suicide prevention and encouraging sensitive, informed, and ethical reporting on this important issue. This update was developed by the WHO in collaboration with the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).