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You are here: Text Only Home > Intermediary Role: Media Personnel > What to look for as Media personnel
 
What to look for as Media personnel
 
Introduction

Media personnel need to be aware of associated factors with suicide, symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses, how to ask appropriate questions when reporting on or about suicide, and the importance of language in reporting about suicide.

 

A thorny subject

Suicide is a complex topic carrying a tremendous amount of emotional weight.   While suicide is a difficult topic to report on, members of the media need to learn more about suicide and suicide prevention in order to best present information to the public.

 

Researchers have identified factors that are associated with suicide and suicidal behavior.   These factors have been given numerous names, like “risk factors” or “predictors of suicide”. This is not to say that the presence of these factors causes suicide, but they do seem to indicate a higher risk for suicide.

Associated factor include emotional, behavioral and physiological factors like (References 5&6):

  • Past history of suicide attempts
  • Diagnosis of a mental health disorder
  • Poor problem solving skills
  • Loss of a loved one...

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References for What to look for as Media personnel
Life Situation
The following life situation exemplifies how a member of the media might be faced with reporting on suicide and what a potentially effective response might be.

Felix has been working for the local paper for about 2 years.   His job requires him to report on local news.   Felix's most recent assignment was to report on a local teen that killed himself...

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Resources

Electronic, print, and multimedia resources are provided to help you to find additional authoritative information on What to look for as Media personnel. These resources are available from such national organizations as The National Institute of Mental Health as well as professional organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions.

Book

Goldsmith, S. K., Pellmar, T. C., Kleinman, A. K., & Bunney, W. E. (Eds.). (2002). Reducing suicide: A national imperative. The National Academies Press: Washington, DC.

You can read the book on The National Academies Press Web site: http://www.nap.edu/books/0309083214/html/

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What to look for
>Detection Resources
>>Associated Factors
>>Protective Factors
>>Facts  
>>Myths
>>How to relate
>>Common concerns
>Professional resources
>>Professional screening tools
>>Suicide risk screening tools
What to do to help
>Treatment Resources
>>What to do in an emergency  
>>Suicide hotlines
>>Facilities
>>Mental health providers
>>Legal considerations
>>Standard treatments for suicide ideation
>>What to do as a survivor of suicide
>Professional Resources
>>Clinical guidance 
>>Ethical and Legal guidelines
>>Assessment information
>>Medication information
>>What to do as a professional survivor of suicide
What education is available 
>Education Resources
>>Online educational tools  
>>Organizations
>>Courses for credit
>>Publications
>Professional Resources
>>Higher education   
>>Organizations
>>Courses for credit
>>Continuing education
>>Conferences
>>Publications
What researchers are doing
>Research Resources
>>Research news
>>Statistics
>>Clinical trials
>>Grants/RFP
>>Institutions
>Professional Resources
>>Research news

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Last Updated: July 2004