Media reporting of Suicide

Media reporting of Suicide

I have thought long and hard as to whether or not I should post this, asking myself am I simply adding to irresponsible reporting. However, I believe there is a case to be had for doing so, as it is already in the public domain. Before I start, my deepest sympathy to Dominic’s family.
There is plenty of media guidance for the reporting of suicides in the press, The Samaritans and the IPSO to name just two. The aims are:
1. not to further increase anxiety for the families involved
2. not identify methodology to reduce the risk of increasing attractiveness of the method
3. not to identify the place so as to prevent the location becoming a magnet for future suicides.
The report in The Times falls short in this regard and also use the phrase “committed” though advised not to.
Despite writing to the paper a few times over the last two years, challenging their reporting standards, nothing has changed, so I feel justified in raising it here.
If you see inappropriate reporting, challenge it, because that is how we will bring about change for the better.