[YSPNetwork] Recommendations to avoid media contribution to suicide

[Lisa M MILLET]

Thanks Maxine for your input.
 
I'm afraid that in my concern over the interpretation of the data and the photo of an individual standing on a bridge I failed to say - good job - with thing parts of the story that are clearly a great job. 
 
I know of the Oregonians work to improve the reporting of suicide and I have a copy of the document that came out of that work. 
 
You all did a great job in the story by posting resources for help. 
 
We can disagree about the appropriateness of the bridge jump photo, and the statement that Portland has seen twice as many suicides this year as in years past. 
 
Thanks for your responsiveness and also your interest in suicide prevention. 
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.

>>> "Maxine Bernstein" <maxinebernstein at news.oregonian.com> 10/24/2008 4:05:25 PM >>>

Lisa - 
Thanks for your email.
I appreciate your comments.

I actually sat on a committee in-house at the Oregonian that reviewed media suicide coverage last year. We had county mental health experts, and consumers address the committee, and the fact that no one really knows why someone commits suicide was a point repeatedly made.

I think the story says that while some suspect the bleak economy and changes in the mental health care system might have played a role, the story also says no one really knows for sure what's prompted this spike.

We also listed with the story resources for help , as the below suggests: " provide the public with information on how and where to seek help if they or someone they know is in trouble" and spoke to a mental health consumer who emphasized the need to reach out for "help.''

I think the story also showed that the county and police are concerned about the recent (2008) statistics, which not only track suicides, but attempts; and 
and are working collaboratively to help people who may be in crisis.


Thanks for your time,
Maxine Bernstein
Oregonian Staff Writer
503-221-8212/wk

>>> "Lisa M MILLET" <Lisa.M.Millet at state.or.us> 10/24/08 3:32 PM >>>
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 Media
A 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. 
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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