[YSPNetwork] Recommendations to avoid media contribution tosuicide

[Lisa M MILLET]

Mark,
Can you add a comment after you review the article asking them to take
the article down? Thanks, Lisa
 
Lisa M. Millet
Injury Prevention and Epidemiology Section Manager
Department of Human Services, Health Services
800 NE Oregon St. Suite 772
Portland, OR  97232
971-673-1059 desk
503-572-8585 cell
971-673-0990 fax
Lisa.M.Millet at state.or.us
 
If all you did was just look for things to appreciate you would live a
joyous, spectacular life.

>>> "McKinney Mark" <Mark.Mckinney at state.or.us> 10/24/2008 3:40 PM >>>

Lisa, thank you so much for your note to Maxine.  I don*t subscribe to
the Oregonian but I will certainly review her article on line. 
Hillcrest is all too familiar with the contagion effect and any effort
to educate is greatly appreciated. Mark McKinney, LCSW
Treatment Services Supervisor
Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility
(503) 986-0416 off.
(503) 540-3741 pgr.
-----Original Message-----
From: yspnetwork-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:yspnetwork-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Lisa
M MILLET
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 3:32 PM
To: maxinebernstein at news.oregonian.com
Cc: ONEIL Patrick; LAIDLER Matthew; WOODWARD Jennifer A; NOONAN Donna;
KOHN Melvin A; Yspnetwork at listsmart.osl.state.or.us; HEDBERG Katrina
Subject: [YSPNetwork] Recommendations to avoid media contribution to
suicide Hi Maxine,
I'm sending this to you first and then I'll post elsewhere. The article
today in the O with a picture of an individual on a bridge threatening
to jump and a number of descriptions of people who have died by suicide,
describing how they died is highly inappropriate in terms of its
possible contribution to contagion. Below I am pasting in the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention Media Recommendations link and some
narrative that introduces that..:
 
Economy, Suicide and the MediaA number of recent stories in the media
have highlighted tragic suicide deaths in the context of the current
financial crisis. Although it is true that such stressors can precede a
suicide, the issue of causation is much more complicated. In fact, more
than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying
psychiatric disorder at the time of their death, most often depression.
It is important to note that when people have recovered from their
depression, the stressful events look different to them, and because
they are thinking more clearly they can find better solutions to their
problems.   Since the most recent statistics on suicide rates are from
2005, it is nearly impossible to determine the effect, if any, that the
recent economic downturn has had on the nation*s suicide rate. And while
historically, there have been reports about suicide rates increasing
during past economic recessions, direct cause and effect has not been
studied or determined (see a recent article by ABC News, *Economic
Depression Suicides A Myth?*).Therefore, it is important for the media
to avoid sensationalizing recent news of suicides by linking them to the
economy when the statistics are not available and facts are limited.
Instead, the media could educate the public about suicide warning signs,
symptoms of depression and provide the public with information on how
and where to seek help if they or someone they know is in trouble.In
addition to providing inaccurate information, highlighting stories about
suicide deaths can run the risk of contributing to suicide contagion,
also known as copycatting. Certain ways the media reports about this
issue, such as oversimplifying and sensationalizing suicide, can
contribute to contagion or in the very least can amplify more
misinformation about suicide. Nationally recognized recommendations for
reporting on suicide are available at www.afsp.org/media. AFSP urges the
media to refer to these recommendations for any and all future
reportings on suicide, and consider adding into their coverage helpful
resources for individuals in suicidal (1-800-273-TALK) and/or financial
crisis. L
isa M. Millet
Injury Prevention and Epidemiology Section Manager
Department of Human Services, Health Services
800 NE Oregon St. Suite 772
Portland, OR  97232
971-673-1059 desk
503-572-8585 cell
971-673-0990 fax
Lisa.M.Millet at state.or.usIf all you did was just look for things to
appreciate you would live a joyous, spectacular life.


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