CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
-
Observational Study
The association between suicide deaths and putatively harmful and protective factors in media reports.
Exposure to media reporting on suicide can lead to suicide contagion and, in some circumstances, may also lead to help-seeking behaviour. There is limited evidence for which specific characteristics of media reports mediate these phenomena. ⋯ This large study identified significant associations between several specific elements of media reports and suicide deaths. It suggests that reporting on suicide can have a meaningful impact on suicide deaths and that journalists and media outlets and organizations should carefully consider the specific content of reports before publication.