Is this an attempt to profit from suicide?
Trigger warning: This post discusses issues related to suicide and self-harm. It may be triggering for some readers.
People at risk of suicide are among the most vulnerable in our community. That’s why there are strict guidelines around how the media can report suicide; to avoid portraying it in any way that may trigger someone in to act in a copycat way.
This includes visual or written descriptions that could make it look glamorous, romantic, glorified, heroic or positive in any way.
More from Mia Freedman: “Suicide contagion. Does it exist?”
There are countless studies that prove suicide contagion is real. Those at risk can be influenced by the suicides of others, experts tell us. In their depressed or desperate state, they can be highly suggestible.
So the media, generally, are extremely careful. And never more so than when it’s the suicide of a child. You are unlikely to read about the suicide of children and teenagers, even though these tragedies occur far more often than you’d think.
Regularly here at Mamamia, including this week, we become aware of child suicides and choose not to write about them, as do most other media organisations.
It’s a difficult decision because some would argue that there are benefits to bringing suicide out of the shadows and shining some public light on it. Public awareness might prompt changes in public policy. An increase to funding for support services.