Reporting Guidelines
General Press Release No. 189 (November 1994)

Reporting of Suicide

This guideline was replaced in July 2001 by Guideline 246.

Suicides are rarely reported in newspapers. There have been, and will continue to be, exceptions. Mass suicides, suicides by public figures, bizarre cases, statistical run-downs on type, places, age groups and other aspects are all legitimate matters of public interest and concern.

Newspapers in Australia answer that interest and concern, the Press Council believes, with a marked degree of responsibility and care. In individual cases names are usually withheld from publication. But even here there are exceptions; sometimes the name is essential to the report, as in the case of a public figure, and sometimes a name is needed to prevent confusion and unnecessary worry.

Judging by its own observations and the relatively few complaints is has received, the Press Council believes that almost all papers have treated suicides with restraint and responsibility. The Council has also had responses from most of the major papers which indicate that they are all aware of the desirability of avoiding

• extra pain for relatives and friends;
• any encouragement of copy-cat suicides; and
• unnecessary details of method, or place.

However, there are always exceptions where these desirable aims give way to the pressure of news and public interest. It is not possible to draw up sufficiently precise guidelines on the reporting of suicides so as to allow for the inevitable exceptions that crop up. "Motherhood" guidelines are of little, if any, value, and firm guidelines are impossible because of the wide variety of circumstances and the validity of the case for many exceptions.

Indeed some authorities suggest that increased reporting of suicides can act as a deterrent to others and, perhaps, draw attention to the social problems that lead to the contemplation of suicide.

The incidence of suicide among young people is, it is reported, extremely high in Australia, and thus the press treatment of such cases must reflect a high degree of concern and responsibility. With that in mind the Victorian branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has asked the Press Council to draw up guidelines on suicide reporting, particularly the reporting of suicide by young people.

The Press Council can see no useful purpose in drawing up "rules" that would amount only to good intentions; "rules" that would be of necessity full of holes. The Council prefers to rely on the continuing responsible attitude of the press to the problem. However, the Council strongly commends to editors the College's suggestion that articles dealing with suicide, when they are deemed necessary, should include reference to the counselling services that are available for young people in emotional distress, with contact addresses and phone numbers.

See also:
Reporting of Suicide (Press Council News, February 1998)
1997-98 Freedom of the Press summary - on developments on reporting of youth suicide

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