New suicide reporting guidelines released

Peter Dunne says new rules for reporting on suicides are the first time media have agreed to use a single, consistent set of guidelines. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New suicide reporting guidelines for journalists have been released.

While the Coroner's Act puts some legal limitations around publishing details of individual deaths, the guidelines take a wider view of the issues around reporting.

They were developed by a group of media representatives and mental health professionals, led by Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.

Among the recommendations made was for journalists to consider the newsworthiness of each suicide case, and report in straight forward manner, providing information that increases awareness of the risk factors and warning signs.

Journalists were also urged not to simplify suicide by putting it down to a single cause, or to give specific details about location or method.

Mr Dunne said this was the first time media had agreed to use a single, consistent set of guidelines.

"We have deliberately steered away from a prescriptive, imposed-from-outside approach to get something that the media will work with."

Mr Dunne said there was a myth that people should not talk about suicide because it was too sensitive, painful, difficult or dangerous to do so.

"However, people need to know that it is okay to talk about it. It is how we talk about it that is important and this document helps advance that cause.

"The media play a critical role in making sure that any public conversation on suicide is informed and useful, and that it does not create further risk or harm."