How media reporting influences our attitudes

What we know

People with lived and living experience of suicide and suicide-related stigma tell us that:

• Responsible media reporting, using non-stigmatising language could help address stigma. This could be achieved by training media students and professionals about responsible media reporting. It may also be beneficial to build relationships with media outlets to raise awareness of suicide-related stigma and what they can do to address it

• Involve people with lived experience of suicide in media activities and public campaigns. Ensuring people with lived experience are included can lead to better outcomes by creating effective, compassionate, richer and more impactful suicide prevention activities that can help tackle stigma and make it easier for people to seek help

• Accurate representation on TV/film could also help to destigmatise suicide. Most commonly, storylines and plots around suicide result in a death and often the person is facing extreme circumstances. Representation of stories of hope and recovery within TV/film could contribute to a reduction in suicide-related stigma

• Televised campaigns and campaigns at large public events addressing suicide and suicide-related stigma were suggested as a way of tackling suicide-related stigma. These campaigns, either on TV or at events such as concerts and marathons, could encourage conversations around suicide and inform the public of the consequences and impact of stigma-related to suicide