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Suicide prevention experts are concerned a Wellington principal's action in publishing the name of a pupil who killed herself in his school's newsletter could encourage copycat incidents.
The newsletter, which is distributed to parents and also appears on the school's website, said the pupil "ended her own life", The Dominion Post reported.
The Coroners Act says media cannot publish suicide details until a coroner makes such a finding.
Health Ministry acting suicide prevention co-ordinator Candace Bagnall said publishing the name and how she died could encourage copycat incidents.
"People don't need to know the young person's name."
Barry Taylor, from Wellington Regional Public Health's suicide subvention service, said there was a lot of debate among suicide prevention professionals over how to handle the publication of information about incidents.
However, Mr Taylor said, given a choice, he would not have published the pupil's name or how she died.
The principal who wrote the newsletter believed he had acted appropriately.
"It was a traumatic time for me as a principal and for her family," he said.
He said the pupil's funeral was held at the school hall and the her parents spoke openly at the funeral about suicide.
He said he was only reporting back to the same community they talked to.
- NZPA
