For Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Sector

The suicide prevention and mental health sector play an important role in safely communicating about suicide and mental health concerns to the Australian public.

Using a range of strategies the sector can collaboratively build capacity with the community through:

• Appropriate, sector-consistent guidance on providing information on suicide, mental health and mental health concerns to media professionals
• Insight around the potential impact of media reporting of mental health concerns and suicide, based on research and evidence
• Information and explanation of the different sectors within the media
• Strategies to maximise opportunities to represent mental health concerns and suicide appropriately in the media
• Guidance and tactics on how to respond to safe and problematic reporting of suicide, mental health and mental health concerns
• Access to relevant reference material including facts and statistics, research, resources, help-seeking information and services

Talking to media about suicide

Suicide is a topic of legitimate public interest for the media to cover.

The media has an important role to play in influencing social attitudes to suicide and the potential actions individuals may take. Research indicates that the way suicide is reported is significant, with some styles of reporting linked to increased rates of suicide deaths.

By learning how to work with the media, people involved in mental health and suicide prevention sector can help to ensure the right messages are being shared with the public.

Key points to remember when talking to the media about suicide:

• consider the potential impact of the story and whether you should be involved
• provide expert comment or advice where possible
• provide the media with helpline contacts and information about crisis support services, treatment and support options
• a guide for media about the correct help-seeking information and why inclusion is necessary
• communicate the need to avoid description of the method and location of suicide
• check your language does not glamorise suicide or present it as normal or an option for dealing with problems
• help journalists with context about suicide by providing general information about suicide and its relationship to mental health concerns and other risk factors
• exercise caution when providing access to people who have been bereaved by suicide
• promote the Mindframe guidelines and website to journalists.

Talking to media about mental health concerns

The media is an important source of information for the community about mental health issues and plays an important role in influencing the way people think and act towards those who are affected by mental health concerns.

Those working within the mental health and suicide prevention sector often need to work closely with media to advance the messages of the sector or respond to issues in the community.

As sources for media stories, those involved with the mental health and suicide prevention sector need to understand the evidence potential impacts that media reporting about these issues can have.

Key points to remember when talking to the media about mental health concerns:

• when considering whether or not to participate in the story, ask yourself: does it provide an opportunity to contribute to community understanding of mental health and mental health concerns?
• provide the media with qualified expert comment and/or advice where possible
• provide appropriate helpline contacts (telephone and online) and information about treatment and support options
• avoid language that is labelling or stigmatising and provide alternatives when media professionals use such language
• be careful that you don’t inadvertently reinforce stereotypes such as those that link mental health concerns with violence or suggest individuals are unable to work or lead fulfilling lives
• consumers and carers considering talking to the media should have adequate information to make a decision about participation and have access to appropriate support throughout the process
• whenever possible promote the Mindframe guidelines to the media.

National communications charter

The National communications charter (the Charter) is an evidence-informed document to help guide the way mental health and suicide prevention sectors, governments, businesses, communities and individuals communicate about mental health and wellbeing, mental health concerns and suicide.

The Charter is hosted on Life in Mind - a knowledge exchange portal providing translated research, evidence, policy, data and resources in suicide prevention.

Find out more about the Charter via Life in Mind.