Several civil society groups are calling on the local media to use a responsible and careful approach when reporting on sensitive issues like suicide.
This is according to a joint statement issued yesterday by the Guyana Equality Forum and collaborating partners, Global Shapers Community – Georgetown Hub, Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS) – Guyana and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).
The statement noted the alarming rise in suicide and attempted suicide and that the state of mental health in Guyana is now at the forefront of public discourse. It said that while the media must be commended for keeping the issue prominent, suicide affects us all. It will therefore continue to be news, the statement said, but cautioned that media coverage should be done in a manner that is responsible and supports the national effort to curb suicide.
It alluded to media reports that have included the age, means, identity, suspected reasons and other factors surrounding suicides and attempted suicides. In addition, the statement cited the use of “sensational headlines” and the fanfare of media broadcast on suicide as “breaking news.” This provides “unintended glorifications of these acts to persons who are already contemplating suicide.
“Not only is such reporting irresponsible, but it can contribute to the phenomenon known as ‘copycat suicides’,” the statement said.
It was further stated that there is circumstantial evidence that suggests that the ‘copycat’ approach may be also prevalent in Guyana.
Meanwhile, the statement noted that the Ministry of Public Health has begun hosting workshops for the media on how to report on suicide in Guyana; an initiative that members of civil society are strongly encouraging all media houses to participate in.
The Guyana Equality Forum, Global Shapers Community-Georgetown Hub, POTS – Guyana and SASOD endorse the following guidelines by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for suicide reporting:
Take the opportunity to educate the public about suicide; avoid language which sensationalizes or normalizes suicide, or presents it as a solution to problems; avoid prominent placement and undue repetition of stories about suicide; avoid explicit description of the method used in a completed or attempted suicide; avoid providing detailed information about the site of a completed or attempted suicide; word headlines carefully; exercise caution in using photographs or video footage; take particular care in reporting celebrity suicides; show due consideration for people bereaved by suicide; provide information about where to seek help; and recognise that media professionals themselves may be affected by stories about suicide.
“The groups believe that the local media can be a strong partner in the fight to prevent suicide and combat mental illness in Guyana by implementing the WHO guidelines on suicide reporting,” the statement said.
