[YSPNetwork] Oregonian story on suicide in Portland

[Lisa M MILLET]

I got a call from the editor on Friday night at home. We discussed several things. First off, the data in the table is correct - Center for Health Statistics data on Multnomah County. However, the story was about Portland, and the first sentence claims a two times increase in suicide in Portland this year to date. We also discussed the idea that displaying a picture of an individual standing on a bridge is the kind of thing that might contribute to contagion. 
 
Her response:  The picture is appropriate because the person did not jump and the story says that. In addition, the Oregonian has guidelines for suicide stories, and they are aware that discussing details of suicides, as in how to die is inappropriate. They feel that they did not do that in this story...that's debatable. The first sentence of the story claiming doubling of suicide in Portland was not acknowledged.
 
I want to thank everyone for your attention to this. I also want to clarify that I did not mean to call the data that the Center for Health Statistics provided into question. I meant to call the Oregonians use of the data into question. Thanks to our Center staff, Jennifer, Joyce and epidemiologists Matt and Xun we have great resources for data. Thanks all. 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.

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