Dear Editor
THE point has been made numerous times that the media has an important role to play in influencing social attitudes towards and perceptions of suicide and mental illness and must therefore ensure appropriate reporting of suicide and mental illness in order to minimise harm and copycat behaviour and reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental illness.

Of specific note are recent reports about a suicide death on the ECD for which media reportage speculated about the cause and ended up making assertions about supposed conflicts that served to create a great deal of tension between the families of the victim and her spouse on the one hand and a great deal of distress for family members on both sides. At a time when both families were grappling to come to terms with a death that was avoidable, such reportage not only smacked of sensationalism but contravened all the basic parameters for reportage in general and suicide reportage in particular.

So once again The Caribbean Voice calls on the Ministry of Public Health to ensure that media avoid counter-productive coverage, by consistently and continually releasing guidelines for media, especially with respect to what should be avoided and what should be included.

AVOID:
• Details of the method
• The word “suicide” in the headline
• Photo(s) of the deceased
• The word commit with reference to suicide.
• Admiration of the deceased
• The idea that suicide is unexplainable
• Repetitive or excessive coverage
• Front page coverage
• Exciting reporting
• Romanticized reasons for the suicide
• Simplistic reasons for the suicide
• Speculations about causes
• Language that seeks to apportion blame
• Approval of the suicide

CONVEY:
• Alternatives to suicide (i.e. treatment)
• Community resource information for those with suicidal ideation
• Examples of a positive outcome of a suicidal crisis (i.e. calling a suicide hotline)
• Warning signs of suicidal behaviour
• How to approach a suicidal person including use of emphatic communication.
• Strategies to build self-esteem and provide coping skills.
• Contact info to get help, such as the Suicide Helpline
The training for media personnel provided some time ago by PAHO needs to continually reinforced by media houses and/or the Guyana Press Association. In this respect The Caribbean Voice stands ready to offer such training on a periodic basis.

Regards
The Caribbean Voice