New UK Press Guidelines for Suicide

There have been new media guidelines introduced in the UK in regards to reporting on suicide, following an article published in Northern Ireland’s edition of the Sunday World, which showed a close-up of a man who had taken his life.

The picture, showing the man hanging from a bridge, was published on the front page of the newspaper with a description of various aspects of the death. The journalist also speculated as to whether or not it was suicide or murder. This goes against various guidelines set out in order to prevent the encouragement of suicide.

The new guidelines are an extension of the older ones set in place, and state:

• Avoid prominent placement of stories about suicide – specifically do not report them on the front page.
• Avoid explicit description of the method used as this may lead to an increase in the use of this method.
• Avoid providing detailed information about the site of the suicide as this may lead to an increase in the number of suicides at that site.
• Avoid using photographs and if any images are to be used ask permission of the family – bereaved family members are at heightened risk of suicide themselves.

Below you can find a link to the BBC news website which has published an article and has a video interview with various parties and their reactions to this article being published.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8336911.stm

These changes are evidence that guidelines need to be constantly changed as the media are always challenging them and sometimes even breaking them.