Adjudication No. 1319  (adjudcicated June 2006)

The Australian Press Council has upheld a complaint by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health and others against FHM magazine over the publication of a feature article on suicide in its April 2006 edition.

The feature article headlined Suicide: Is it all it's cracked up to be? covered nine common methods of suicide and gave verdicts that they were more likely to fail than succeed and that side effects could be horrific. It included graphic illustrations of public suicides including hanging, jumping from structures, gunshot and self-immolation.

The Hunter Institute was joined by SANE Australia, Lifeline Australia and Suicide Prevention Australia in its complaint that it was "clearly the worst suicide story that has appeared in the Australian media".

The Institute said the article did not have any regard for the sensibilities of its readership which fell within the group currently at highest risk of suicide and may cause not only offence but harm to vulnerable community members. It said that the magazine had also disregarded the Press Council's guidelines on reporting of suicide.

The magazine's editor argued that it was a general interest and entertainment magazine with a core readership of young men aged 18 to 35 and that, from time to time, it addressed more serious issues. The intention was to discuss the nine more common ways of attempting suicide but the article did not go into any detail that was not commonly known. No-one, he said, could come away from this feature thinking that any of these methods would be a good idea.

The editor said FHM's article was never intended to offend or cause anyone any type of problem and he regretted any offence caused. It was aimed to be a serious article about a serious issue written in a tone and language that its target audience would understand.

The feature article ended with a small advisory, headlined Feel Like Shit, telling readers to try calling Lifeline, giving a telephone number and web page address. The complainant said this was done in such a mocking way that it was not likely to encourage readers to seek help.

While upholding the complaint that there were unnecessary illustrations and reference to details of method and places of suicide in this feature, the Council does not seek to discourage magazines like FHM discussing serious issues nor doing so in a way the magazines believe can get the message through to their target audience. In discussing suicides, this aim could be helped by consultation with reputable associations and authorities.

The Australian Press Council guidelines on reporting of suicide can be found at:

www.presscouncil.org.au/pcsite/activities/guides/gpr246_1.html

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