Severe depression is one of the leading causes of suicide

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), first global report on suicide prevention published this week, roughly one person dies of suicide every 40 seconds.  More than 800,000 die by suicide every year. 

The World Suicide Prevention Day will be marked on 10th of September and is preceded by suicide prevention awareness activities worldwide. 

Some 75% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. One of the challenges that have emerged lately is the rapid growth of the 'citizen reporter' phenomenon, boosted by the proliferation of the internet.

There are now many avenues for sharing online content including citizen-generated media coverage, social media sites, blogs, and online content from traditional media organization’s websites. This has given rise to a cadre of 'citizen reporters' who are people just keen to share stories to earn likes or get approval from peers.  

Some of these platforms do not provide professional editing to moderate the stories to ensure adherence to journalist code of ethics. Even professionally trained journalist sometimes report irresponsibly without adhering to best practices on suicide reporting.

Whereas some suicide deaths may be newsworthy, the way media covers suicide can influence behavior negatively by contributing to contagion or positively by encouraging help seeking. Suicide Contagion or “Copycat Suicide” occurs when one or more suicides are reported in a way that contributes to another suicide.

Over 50 studies all over the world have confirmed that certain types of news coverage can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable people. The magnitude of the increase is related to the amount, duration and prominence of coverage.

The risk of more suicides surges when the story openly describes the suicide method uses dramatic or explicit headlines or images, and repeated coverage that sensationalize or idealizes a death.

It is important to note that covering suicide responsibly, even briefly, can change public misconceptions and correct myths, which can encourage those who are vulnerable or at risk to seek help.

As you prepare to report on a suicide incidence, please pen your story in such a way that it will discourage suicide and not lead to more suicides.

Severe depression is one of the leading causes of suicide. Seek help when you get depressed and talk to someone who cares when you start getting suicidal thoughts.

The Author is mental health and child rights advocate and the Founder/CEO of Psychiatric Disability Organization. He can be reached on: [email protected] Website: http://www.pdokenya.org/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Psychiatricdisability/