Suicide News Reporting Clarified

Revised guidelines have been published to assist journalists with the reporting of suicide and self harm incidents across Ireland.

The Department of Health is supporting the specially formulated guide which have been launched by The Irish Association of Suicidology, the Samaritans and the National Office for Suicide Prevention in the Republic of Ireland.

NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "As suicide respects no borders, I have been working with my counterparts in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain to ensure a co-ordinated response to this tragic phenomenon.

"Organisations across the public, voluntary and community sectors are all contributing to the drive against suicide and I commend the Samaritans and the IAS for updating the media guidelines for the reporting of suicide and self-harm."

The Minister added: "The media has a vital role in ensuring that incidents of suicide and self-harm are not sensationalised or, worse still, glamourised.

"Reporting must also be constantly mindful of the hurt and pain of those loved ones left behind," he said.

"Thankfully our local media has shown itself to be very sensitive to these needs, and its professional approach to the reporting of such incidents has contributed greatly to our efforts to tackle this problem.

"The new guidelines will further support their good work in this area," he continued, also noting that his particular concerns about the insidious promotion of suicide and self-harm on internet websites and chat-rooms has become a problem.

"The updated media guidelines cover the new communications technologies. I therefore intend to share the guidelines with my colleagues on the UK Council for Child Internet Safety."

(BMcC/GK)