The Irish Times reports that Irish Health Service Executive this week launched a number of guidelines to the media on the portrayal of suicide. The guidelines were developed by the Samaritans and the Irish Association of Suicidology.

The guidelines are:

• Avoid explicit technical details of suicide methods.
• Include details of further sources of information and advice
• Avoid simplistic explanations for suicide and help your audience understand the complexity of the issue
• Challenge common myths about suicide
• Remember the effect on survivors of suicide, on those who have attempted it, and those who have been bereaved.
• Look after yourself: It can be very distressing reporting on this issue, seek help if you need it.

In Ireland, it’s estimated that about 6% of all suicides result from “copycat” behaviour. It will be interesting to see if the guidelines will be followed and if they are, if that will help reduce this number.

Links: The Samaritans  Irish Association of Suicidology