In Bangladesh and across the globe, there exists a silent epidemic of suicides, with alarming statistics painting a somber reality.
Surveys reveal that in Bangladesh alone, at least 13,000 lives are lost to suicide every year, while globally the number climbs to a staggering 800,000.
To put it in perspective, this means that someone takes his or her own life every 40 seconds worldwide.
It is crucial to recognize that suicide is not merely a common occurrence, but a deeply concerning issue, particularly for youth.
The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies suicide as the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 24.
A recent study conducted by Bangladeshi researchers and published in an international journal indicates that one in ten adolescents in Bangladesh may exhibit suicidal tendencies.
However, suicide does not discriminate based on age; individuals across all age groups are vulnerable.
The silver lining amidst this grim reality is that experts consider suicide largely preventable. With a little awareness and care from family, friends, and society at large, many of these tragic deaths could be averted.
While various factors contribute to suicide, mental health problems stand out as a significant influencer.
Individuals contemplating suicide may be further pushed towards it by sensationalized media coverage of suicide incidents.
Mental health experts emphasize the responsibility of media outlets in disseminating such news with sensitivity and caution.
Dr Salahuddin Qusar Biplob, professor at Department of Psychiatry at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), told Dhaka Tribune: “Suicide is a public health problem in the world today. Suicide prevention and reduction of suicide rates is one of the goals in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) announced by the United Nations.”
He stressed that suicide prevention is a global public health imperative, with everyone, including the media, bearing a responsibility.
Dr Salahuddin, who is the editor of a magazine on mental health named Moner Khobor, said: “Many people think that there is a kind of competition going on among the media these days to get more views. In the hope of getting more views, many try to present sensitive issues like suicide in a very flashy way. Many describe how the person committed suicide, or what was written on a suicide note if found.”
Such coverage not only fails to prevent suicides but may inadvertently trigger vulnerable individuals, the mental health expert said.
Moreover, the impact extends beyond traditional media to social platforms, where individuals may unwittingly exacerbate the problem by sharing graphic content or personal accounts of suicide incidents.
Dr Salahuddin said: “One thing to remember is that almost 90% of suicides occur due to mental health problems. Therefore, there is no alternative to raising awareness about mental health. As a mirror of society, the media should play the biggest role in raising awareness on this issue.”
He urged the media to follow the guidelines of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the World Health Organization in reporting suicide news.
The NIMH guideline
Things to remember during news coverage
- To sensitize the people by presenting correct information in simple and sensitive language to prevent suicide
- Provide accurate information on where, how, and what kind of support and treatment people at risk of suicide can get
- Helpful reports and articles on how to get help to deal with stress, suicidal and self-harming tendencies
- Be more cautious in reporting celebrity/famous person suicides and provide as limited information as possible
- Collecting and presenting information from bereaved family or friends, taking into account their emotional state and surroundings, so that they are not embarrassed by questions and comments.
What to exclude
- Avoid publishing the news of suicide in very prominent places, avoid repeating the news and avoid the word suicide in the headline
- Not using language that suggests suicide is a normal occurrence or that suicide is the solution to a problem
- Non-disclosure of suicide location, method, materials used and details of incident
- Avoiding stimulating and catchy headlines
- Not to publish pictures, video footage or any social media links or screenshots in the media.
Journalists who collect and report on suicides may themselves be affected by the incident. In that case, mental health experts advise seeking medical help if necessary.
