In the U.S., suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24 and the 10th leading cause of death overall. Yet covering suicide poses profound challenges for journalists and news organizations. Balancing concerns of privacy, stigma and contagion are all elements of responsible coverage. What other special considerations are necessary when covering suicide? Does that change when the victim is a child? What does the research tell us?
Journalist specific section of the AFSP website, includes various links to resources for journalists covering suicide and its effect on families and communities.
2015 datasheet on suicide from the Center for Disease Control.
Comprehensive advice for best practice on covering suicide.
Media coverage of suicide is a public health issue. In addition to judging whether a story is newsworthy, journalists need to be aware that their reporting can have wider impacts, not just on relatives and friends of the deceased, but also on readers and audiences. Dart Centre Europe has released a new, comprehensive tip sheet for journalists on covering suicide.