The decision by beyondblue to seek an injunction against the 60 minutes program on the deaths of four young people in a Victorian school raises some critical issues about how we cover suicide in our media. These are extremely delicate matters – particularly where a specific community is so deeply affected and we all need to tread very carefully. Good intentions are simply not enough.
At the outset, we need to acknowledge the pain and suffering of the parents and those immediately affected by these suicides. It’s difficult to imagine what could be more devastating for a parent and it is very understandable when those bereaved by suicide want to share their grief with the wider world and do whatever they can to prevent it occurring again.
On a personal note, it was my experience of losing a young cousin to suicide on our family farm in northeastern Victoria coupled with Australia’s then escalating rates of youth suicide that led us to establish the Inspire Foundation back in 1996. Inspire’s Internet-based service Reachout.com, which connects with more than 200,000 young Australians each year, has been one of a number of services and government initiatives that have helped contributed to a 57% fall in the youth suicide rates since 1997. It’s important that we understand the real progress that has been made on this issue but as these recent tragic events show there is still so much more to be done.
In the current circumstances, I believe the primary focus must be to ask ourselves what’s in the best interest of the young people directly affected? How do we best support these young people and those close to them through these tough and tragic times? As important as principles of press freedom are, my concern at this point in time is with the young people immediately involved. The risk of contagion is a very real issue.
We understand things are quite fragile within the local school community. We know that beyondblue, the Victorian Government and others are very concerned about the potential impact the 60 Minutes piece could have on the local community.
The overriding question to ask ourselves in situations like this is – will our media coverage of the issue give young people a greater sense of hope? As a result of the media coverage will young people in the wider Geelong area and around Australia now have a better understanding of how and where they can get help? Will they feel more supported and better equipped to deal with these tough times?
No one is saying don’t talk about suicide. But we need to talk about it responsibly and in a way that doesn’t put additional young people at risk.
There is a fundamental difference discussing an issue like this when things are still very raw and potentially dangerous compared with a more reflective analysis some time down the track - and even then we need to be careful.
The emotions that are thrown up by suicide are incredibly powerful and we need to be vigilant in ensuring the heat stays in our heart while we keep our heads cool. In the early days of Inspire, I definitely had a savior mentality that wanted to rush in and “rescue” young people before experts and young people quickly led me to a more measured and appropriate response.
There are also some very salient lessons to learn from the media portrayal of a cluster of youth suicides in Bridgend in South Wales over the past couple of years. We need to ensure we don’t see a repeat of the totally inappropriate media coverage that occurred in Bridgend where there was a frightening escalation of the suicides.
Specialists from Oxford University’s Centre for Suicide Research have pointed to “compelling evidence of increases in suicidal behavior after the appearance of news reports, fictional drama representations and suicidal manuals.”
“Studies have also found increases in suicides after a picture is used of the victim or the location and where the story is sensationalised, is prominent in the paper and is repeated.”
Ten international studies have revealed a direct causal link between the reported suicide and those happening afterwards.
In light of this evidence, we must tread with great caution and avoid rushing in as much as we might feel strongly for those involved, particularly the parents.
We need to keep very cool heads and ensure we do not add to an already precarious environment. We need to work extra hard to ensure we do no harm. Media guidelines have been put in place specifically to counter the risk of contagion.
It is entirely appropriate that beyondblue and others are deeply concerned about the 60 Minutes program going to air. 60 Minutes ran a program in May 2007 covering the suicide of two young Victorian girls. We were involved in discussions with 60 Minutes regarding that piece where they failed to heed advice and ran a piece that was highly irresponsible and potentially very dangerous. It was not surprising that the Australian Communications and Media Authority subsequently made a finding that 60 Minutes had breached the guidelines on the reporting of suicide.
I have no doubt that the team at 60 Minutes are well-intentioned and genuinely empathise with the anguish of those affected particularly the parents but I think they should be focusing their energy on working with organizations like Beyondblue rather than risk adding to a sense of despair and hopelessness. We need to ensure we always give young people a message of hope and support – when you have a particular community deeply affected you need to be even more careful.
Parents should talk with their kids and young people about what support is available and actively explore these options. Log onto reachout.com and check out the fact sheets, put hotline telephone hotlines up on the fridge and talk about the role of school counselors and GPs and how they can help. The key message should be – you’re not alone and you will get through it.
For young people, we know that they first turn to their friends if they’re doing it tough and no doubt they’ll be talking about this very issue among themselves. Therefore we need to promote available supports and make sure parents have discussions with their children about what to do if a friend speaks to them about thoughts of suicide. This is where websites like reachout.com and beyondblue.org.au can help as well as Lifeline and Kids Help Line on the phone and face to face services such as Headspace, GPs and community health centres.
We need to focus on giving people hope and support rather than being sucked into the vortex that is suicide fed by parental fears of their worst nightmare.
Perhaps it’s time that the heads of the Australian media sat down with the leading experts in the field and governments so that together we can privately work out a way forward that avoids the need for anyone to even consider having to take out an injunction.
Everyone wants to prevent further suicides – let’s work together and use the opportunity this court case provides to help more young people lead happier lives.
Jack Heath is the Founder and Executive Director of the Inspire Foundation – www.inspire.org.au.
