Waitress's suicide puts focus on media
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Expert calls for action: Brodie Panlock's parents Damien (left) and Rae Panlock outside the Melbourne Magsitrates Court (AAP : David Crosling)
Youth mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry says media guidelines that restrict reporting on suicide are too conservative.
Yesterday four men were fined record amounts over the workplace bullying of Melbourne waitress Brodie Panlock, who later took her own life.
Professor McGorry, the Australian of the Year, says the discussion of her death has helped public understanding of a major health issue.
Ms Panlock's case is one of the few where there has been widespread media reportage of the circumstances of a suicide.
Professor McGorry says suicide is a much bigger problem than widely recognised.
"Someone dies in Australia from suicide every four hours, and every 15 minutes someone attempts suicide, so it is a very big public health problem and the response has been puny to date, I must say," he said.
"If you look at the amount of money that is spent on reducing the road toll, the amount of resources devoted to suicide prevention are puny and really need some serious attention."
Professor McGorry says the issue is often shrouded in silence and he has called for a softening of the media guidelines for reporting suicide.
"I think they're possibly a bit conservative. We [have] really been risk averse in actually facing the issue. The whole issue of the taboo of suicide goes back so far that I suspect that is playing a role in why we under-report it."
Record fines
Yesterday a Victorian magistrate handed record fines totalling $335,000 to four men who bullied Ms Panlock, 19, at a suburban cafe in Melbourne.
Among the examples of the persistent vile treatment she received was being held by a co-worker while another poured fish sauce over her.
The case has prompted Family First Senator Stephen Fielding to reveal that he is in talks with the Government to set up an inquiry into bullying.
"There hasn't been any real focus really at the federal level and I think it is encouraging that the Government is keen to talk about this issue and it is one that Family First takes very seriously," he said.
The ABC understands that although the discussions between the Government and Senator Fielding are still in their early stages, the Government believes an inquiry is necessary.
But talk of an inquiry frustrates Professor McGorry.
"I think we know a lot about it already and I'd like to see action," he said.
"We've seen a lot of inquiries from governments all around the country. I'd like to to action investment making people more aware of the damaging effects of bullying."
People feeling depressed or worried about a friend or relative can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Comments (66)
Comments for this story are closed, but you can still have your say.
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ABC (Moderator):
09 Feb 2010 8:02:54am
Do you think the Australian media should rethink its approach to reporting on suicide?
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Politically Incorrect:
09 Feb 2010 8:32:34am
The media dont report on it because theres no money for anyone to make in it.
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Roc:
09 Feb 2010 10:38:50am
Media don't report on it because it was once believed to have been seen as a form of promotion of suicide to young people. i.e. A young person with suicidal tendencies would read about it and agree with what happened because they could identify with it. Therefore, where they only had the thought, they were now seriously considering suicide as it worked for the person reported about - that person no longer suffering and it teaching everyone a lesson 'now that I'm gone'...
It is a fine line and you might think it is a load of crap, but it is fact. One of those, 'hard to tell which is the right way to go about it' things.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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renz:
09 Feb 2010 8:33:03am
Yes.
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guytar:
09 Feb 2010 8:33:09am
Professor McGorry suggests that Australian media should rethink it's approach to reporting suicide, and I agree with him. The man is Australian of the Year because of his distinguished medical career, and that means he must be listened to. Furthermore, the four who participated in Brodie's torment should have all faced criminal prosecution for crimes that lead to lengthy prison terms.
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John R:
09 Feb 2010 8:35:56am
Surely researchers have done studies on whether ongoing reporting of suicides in the media would increase or decrease the likelihood of people attempting suicide. I don't see these mentioned in the article though.
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Peregrine:
09 Feb 2010 9:01:11am
As a strong supporter of Darwinism I think suicide should be reported.
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M:
09 Feb 2010 10:10:15am
I highly doubt it has been studied. No ethics committee would sign off on such a study.
You can't simply compare statistics between countries because other factors may be involved in the differing suicide rates.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Roc:
09 Feb 2010 10:50:21am
There has been a hell of a lot of studies on suicide in Australia in fact. I have worked in welfare for a couple of decades now and the workshops on suicide prevention are updated annually based on the latest current research.
At one time, it was feared that reporting on suicide acted as an encouragement to potential suicides. The things to understand is that someone considers suicide for various reasons (mostly feeling unloved, unwanted, worthless, bullied, et. al) and in many ways, suicide is seen as both a way out and as "I'll teach them all a lesson! How will they feel when I am gone." type of action. Therefore, reporting suicide was often seen as giving potential suicides a handle on how well it will work for them.
It is very complex to say the least.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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cfz:
09 Feb 2010 8:57:16am
There are more pressing issues to cover, I dont need to know about it
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Lindsay Cooper:
09 Feb 2010 10:26:28am
cfz: There are more important issues, like what.? someone dies every four hours and you don't consider this important!!!
Most people have no idea of the seriousness of suicde in this country. Consider also that most of the suicides are young people.
Life is getting way too complicated for many people plus the acceptance of drugs (Read Aclohol) and living in debt.
Too stressfull all together.
And they both make a LOT of money.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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scott:
09 Feb 2010 9:19:12am
Absolutely.
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Justin:
09 Feb 2010 9:26:45am
It's precisely flippant, ill-informed stupid comments such as those of Politically Incorrect that hamper debate in a critical issue like this. There are a multitude of reasons the media don't report suicides but largely they relate to the different survivor issues for families (compared to natural and accidental death) and also a traditional thought that reporting suicide can lead to copy cats.
I think maybe it's time we do have a national debate on this devastating issue, and if we can do it without stupid, unhelpful comments we may just save some lives and families.Agree (1) Alert moderator
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dazzle:
09 Feb 2010 10:24:11am
The media are always very keen to support any comment from a distinguished person that purports to give them greater freedom of action.
An unfettered and competent media, and one free from their own agenda, is essential to a true democracy. Unfortunately, issues such as suicide (and we can add racism) require a delicate touch if they are to be reported in a way that makes our society a better one.
Even more unfortunately, our media shows little interest in the well being of society and too much of its reporting and commentary is crassly self interested. They then justify their shabby professionalism by claiming the public's right to know.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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AlanM:
09 Feb 2010 10:43:39am
I largely agree with your comments.
However, I think we should generally dismiss the "copy cat" reason for not reporting suicides.
Based on the same reasoning there would be a whole raft of events we wouldn't report due to this fear.
We wouldn't report on the the person whom killed himself by driving a are at dangerously high speeds (or even more so the person that managed not to kill themselves when driving at high speeds).
We wouldn't report on murders, drug overdoses, people whom kill themselves when jumping off cliffs into the ocean etc etc.
Perhaps it may be necessary to avoid details of the method of suicide, however I think there is much more benefit to bringing this horrible problem to light.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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renz:
09 Feb 2010 9:57:00am
After reading the comments it appears to me that there is a need for the subject of suicide and associated issues to be brought to the public consciousness. Ignorance still abounds in the understanding of emotional and mental health conditions. Responsible reporting which could promote understanding, dispel ignorance and promote a more caring culture in our society would be welcome.
For anyone who has not been affected by suicide, let me tell you that it is gut wrenching and soul destroying for the survivors. It is well overdue for the subject to come out of the closet so that better health strategies can be found.
I have often wondered why, if you look on the back of some cigarette packets, there are statistics of deaths attributed to smoking, road toll, and other factors, but suicide doesn't rate a mention given that more people die annually in this country than road trauma!!!!Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Glenn:
09 Feb 2010 8:09:14am
Repeated systematic bullying of a person should be treated as a criminal offense and if it results in suicide then the charges should extend to manslaughter - in other words if you want to bully a susceptible person into ill health or worse you go to jail ...where you belong.
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mark:
09 Feb 2010 8:49:43am
Agreed. The consequences of bullying are widespread. They are also self-perpetuating. The Public service is adept at it. I have worked with people who have been bullied in their early working life and as have they have progressed through their careers, have turned into very effective bullys themselves. And the cycle continues.
It impacts on people's quality of life, it has a social and medical impact, it affects prodctivity.
And while we're at it... we need to examine the appropriateness of a number of Reality TV shows.... whether it's Big Brother, Idol or Masterchef, the core ingredient is a measure of bullying which the audience seems to get off on. We need to look at all the ways our culture reinforces bullying, and better manage it.
Time for a huge cultural shift.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Peregrine:
09 Feb 2010 9:02:32am
That's a ridiculous proposition. What's going to happen next, prosecuting teachers who didn't pass a student who then goes on to kill themselves. There is no duty of care for the average person to consider somebody else's mental health. Nor should there be.
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Clancy:
09 Feb 2010 9:18:21am
I dissagree strongly! Because, who decides what is 'bullying' and where does it lead?.... imagine one day you say "no i do not want coffee" then get charget with manslaugter because they ran off and committed suicide! An extreme example yes, but Australian authorities have proven themselves very adept at taking things to extreme over time... be very careful what you ask for here. Now on the other hand, there is an offence called assault. Some of the things i heard those cafe staff doing may qualify as assault and in that case it is a different matter.
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scott:
09 Feb 2010 9:19:43am
I agree.... but we would need to build some new gaols to accomodate them.
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Ron:
09 Feb 2010 8:18:12am
The Australian ' media" should rethink it's approach to most things-stop the endless titillation , half baked "truths", silly exposes etc.
We need balance, integrity and consideration-not copy to excite sales and to generate advertising dollars!!Agree (2) Alert moderator
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Michael:
09 Feb 2010 8:20:05am
Why would one want some more sensationalist and intrusive reporting into the private lives of people already suffering from the death of a loved one? What precisely would one learn from such reporting?
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michael:
09 Feb 2010 8:58:27am
there is a need to learn to assist in preventing the same thing happening. the behaviour of politicians is contributing to suicides and the guys are getting off scot free by shifting the burden of responsiblity onto the victims of bullying, manipulation and coercion. If you watch a few parlimentary debates you can see that the guys are deliberately assaulting the self esteem of colleagues and opposition.....and most likely causing long term psychological injury, eg depression.
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Kosta:
09 Feb 2010 9:27:40am
I agree with you Michael but this is the kind of thing that can also generate political will to do something about it.
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posthumourous:
09 Feb 2010 8:24:10am
Yes I agree the Australian media should rethink how it reports suicide but for goodness sake they simply cannot be trusted. There have been so many cases where the media has feasted on the negative circumstances of others in pain - they really can't be trusted. Reminds me of the story where a young boy fell into a Lion's cage at the Zoo. A retired English Colonel jumped in, saved the boy and unfortunately had to kill the lion. When the media got hold of the story they ran with the headline Pommy mongrel kills childs pet.
You can't educate the media, you can't change their basal instincts so, censorship is the only other option.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Politically Incorrect:
09 Feb 2010 8:40:29am
In an alleged free society, censorship should NEVER be an option. This is why when people call this a "free country" I always have to correct them "it CLAIMS to be a free country"
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Pauline:
09 Feb 2010 8:28:01am
I have lost two beautiful sons to suicide. Depression and anxiety are potentially deadly disorders that are given very little priority in the health system. Suicide is more prevelant in our society than is publicised and it needs to be placed in the public arena and not treated as a taboo subject. Our health system is inept at providing treatment, care and support in this area of health. Mental health care in this country is pathetic. Oneof my sons' in particular could very well be alive today if the system had not failed him and the inquest I fought for will support that.
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wir:
09 Feb 2010 8:31:22am
I'm amazed that these guys got away with a fine. Their behavior towards Brodie warrants far more serious charges - assault, GBH, manslaughter even.
I'm appalled, here is a young person tormented to death and these idiots get off with a fine.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Clancy:
09 Feb 2010 8:39:04am
I can understand anyone who isn't a mental health expert (including the media) will be reluctant to comment on suicide for fear of ending up with a suicide being pinned on them! We are an exceedingly blameful society, the second anything goes wrong we rush off and scour the country for somone or something to blame, so no wonder no one wants to talk about suicide!! For this reason also, I do not agree with the sentances placed on those cafe staff either, i think it sets a very dangerous precedent.... it is a defacto 'nice' law, everyone has to walk around pretending to be nice to each other from now on.... what kind of demented fake world are we creating here?? You know, i mean, i do not like people who are pr**ks, but i cannot imaging a person in this country does not have that right to be a pr**k if they so choose!
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Angry of Melbourne:
09 Feb 2010 9:03:04am
Pr@#ks should not be allowed to kill people with their actions mate. Im not going to pull the "have you ever lost anyone to suicide card" But think before you post on a topic like this. Try to imagine how parents, brothers, husbands, wives feel if someone they love takes their life....
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Nathan:
09 Feb 2010 9:37:53am
What they did was not being a pr*k as you say. They were abusing that girl in a completely sick way. Put yourself in her shoes for more than 2 seconds. Though something tells me you have never been on the receiving end of bullying. There is nothing in my mind that seperates that level of abuse from domestic violence. We take a strong stance against that, we should also take a strong stance against this form of workplace abuse.
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Jay:
09 Feb 2010 9:58:00am
In who's deluded mind should someone be allowed to be a pr#$%. Surely if we want to evolve as a community, country, and planet, such attitudes should be held with disdain.
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Tassie Sue:
09 Feb 2010 10:06:11am
Wrong! It's nothing to do with pretending to be nice, or creating a fake demented world. Bullying and harassment in the workplace are illegal. People in this country do not have the right to be pr**ks in the workplace.
Check out state anti-discrimination laws and read the clauses about harassment. Read about the obligations of employers and employees in relation to workplace health and safety. A duty of care certainly exists, Peregrine.
Some of you need to do some serious reading about rights, obligations and responsibilities in a workplace.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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f.walker:
09 Feb 2010 8:39:14am
Please publish the address of the cafe so the public can show their anger by not ever eating there
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Litz1:
09 Feb 2010 9:31:00am
Yes, their names and faces should be publish over the net and in any media so people can stay away and avoid being victimised by them.
Two things, other bullies will flock to his cafe or the scab will just relocate elsewhere. The other supposedly men or cowards will bond together and bully someone else. These are not men, they are cowards little creatures (don't think they eve deserved to be called that). Look at how arogantly they marched outside the court.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Bob of Greenslopes:
09 Feb 2010 8:45:12am
Community discussion about the problem of suicide is important, but sensitivity is needed for the grieving family. Professor McGorry is right to highlight the imbalance that exists with public attention. The road toll is a good example of stealing so much media and politicial thought but so little goes to youth mental illness, suicide or depression. I suggest that 2010 should be a year to improve public debate and correct the imbalance of resources devoted to these areas. Anyone who was waited 10 hours to see some one in a public psychiatric service only to be told that there are no beds available for care will understand.
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Deano:
09 Feb 2010 8:45:57am
More Australians die from suicide than die on our roads.
Why don't suicide and mental health issues get the same publicity and resources that road deaths get (although both are tragic)?
Road related deaths have very much been in the news lately. Stories seem to be exploring options to address this. Wish the media could do the same about self inflicted deaths.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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H.Grech:
09 Feb 2010 8:46:16am
The amount of money that is spent on the whole of mental health services is puny. I guess no government sees a way of making dollars from it in the way they make money from speed cameras claiming they save lives (look at SA's road toll to date).
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mel:
09 Feb 2010 8:50:28am
I was under the impression that the media was discouraged from reporting suicides because of the 'copycat' risk?
I know when a family member worked for the police they were shocked to discover a local bridge was a well used suicide 'spot' - when she asked a colleague why she was unaware of that they explained that in a week following a reported case the rate of attempts from that spot increased fourfold so the police would request the local media not report such incidents.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Millie A:
09 Feb 2010 8:53:37am
Depressing that some males still behave so abominably in the 2010 workplace.
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Mark:
09 Feb 2010 10:16:39am
depressing that some people still think that bullying is only carried out by males.
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M:
09 Feb 2010 10:19:02am
Cut the sexism. Bullying isn't only perpetrated by men. Women might be less likely to physically bully someone but they still can be bullies verbally.
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Kanooka:
09 Feb 2010 9:01:09am
As a longterm Bipolar sufferer I speak from experience when I say that workplace bullying is one of the hardest things I have been forced to deal with. In my situation the manager was the main offender eventualy forcing me to resign. In a subsequent workers compensation matter the senior (Head Office) management backed my tormentor to the hilt, although I had made them aware of my problems at the time.
Only through the support of an understanding wife and outstanding treatment from competant health professionals was I able to avoid taking my own life. Whilst undergoing longterm treatment I became aware of many other people suffering from a fate similar to mine.
Maybe had these men known the damage they were doing the would have desisted, we will never know. What we do however know is that this case has bought out into the open a problem that is vastly under-reported. Until we get balanced reporting on ALL matters of mental health and its' attending issues cases like this will continue to occur.
Bastardisation in any form is torture and should never be condoned in any civilized society, however until society as a whole understands mental health issues more fully it will always be a problem.
The cynic in me agrees that only issues that sell are covered by the press, but the optomist in me sees a time when that will change and the population at large will be better educated in all matters of import, not only those that sell.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Geeeee:
09 Feb 2010 9:51:46am
Maybe its time to starting looking at the real costs of losing a life if that's what it takes to get attention on an issue. But then how do you cost the beauty a person brings into not just your life but that of their friends and maybe the whole world, the inventions they missed out on contributing, the children they may have had and their contributions...
Sadly Workers Compensation almost requires an attempt at suicide to adequately demonstrate 'sufficient' injury being caused by the workplace before accepting a claim for workplace bullying. Maybe that needs looking at too. I realise the insurance companies are terrified of opening the floodgates, but maybe that's what it will take to change things.
Given the evidence of what a person is doing to another might prick the perpetrator's conscience and make them stop, but there's a whole other level of bully that is known as the 'workplace psychopath' who would just relish the chaos and devastation they've caused. Workplaces need better policies to deal with these kinds of people.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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concerned:
09 Feb 2010 9:05:31am
They shouldn't be restricted in their reporting on suicide.
It is however, a particularly sensitive subject, & I think to avoid being sued, the media would have to make sure that they were being absolutely honest in their reporting of the details.
I think it would be difficult for the media to be absolutely honest, sensationalism seems to overtake honesty these days - does anyone else agree?Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Geeeee:
09 Feb 2010 9:08:17am
As one who is currently being bullied at work, with an employer who is doing nothing to change the situation, I am so glad this case has hit the headlines.
Employers need to realise that sticking their head in the sand when an employee is in distress is not a satisfactory response. While I believe research into reporting the details of suicide suggests that it is not a good idea, nor does sweeping the situation under the carpet help.
Just as domestic violence and child abuse were hidden in the community, exposure by the media has forced the community to address the issues head on and take some responsibility. In the same way the media has a role to play in exposing the cost of workplace bullying and suicide to both families and the community. It should not take a suicide for such levels of bullying to be stopped and media exposure of such behaviour is vital in cutting through the taboos of reporting.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Lita:
09 Feb 2010 9:10:27am
Why does the system continually fail to protect the victims in this country.
To Brodie's parents, may you have strength to go through your grief. I hope in time you and the community and with the support of people like my self who have been bullied in their lives so many times will have the strenght to demand for justice and further punishment for these people.
I wonder if the judge and everyone involved in giving this micely punishment would give same minute penalty if it was their family who is the victim.
To anyone who has been bullied lets all help the Brodie's family and demand for fairer punishment for these people. Let us not let them get away with it because they will do it again and again. I do not believe that they are sorry at their age they are mature people committing an act that they know will harm someone.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Chris:
09 Feb 2010 9:24:39am
What does it say about the political process in Victoria when $20+ million is committed to fairy lights on the Westgate Bridge while youth suicide is swept under the carpet. Sadly if the government does give this area the attention it deserves it will undoubtedly follow the usual formula. Set up a committee to give the appearance of activity and then ignore the recommendations.
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david:
09 Feb 2010 9:30:03am
I think there should be more reporting than there is
although I understand there is a "leming" effect
I have a diagnosis that would have 15% of me and my fellows end this way
we have a bridge in our city where they stopped the public count at 65 years ago
this is about the number that go in front of trains in our state
which state am I talking about? the smart state ...the sunshine state... ouch
Still though understanding we conquer fear as they say
I believe too many people have a vested interest in the status quo for there to be much changeAgree (0) Alert moderator
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Alex:
09 Feb 2010 9:33:52am
While it may be appropriate to report more fully on suicide, the reporting of the suicidal act is more problematic. I suggest people read Malcom Gladwell's "The Tipping Point" in which he suggests the suicide of an individual (especially a charismatic figure) can lead to an increase in suicides of those connected to them. The reporting of suicide acts (a deliberate act) cannot be compared with the reporting of road deaths.
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I am a cynic:
09 Feb 2010 9:36:22am
Of course the media should rethink it's approach to suicide. I agree that the media should change its approach to most things it reports on and about. More interested in celebrity gossip, half truths and a lack of impartial reporting.
At present suicide is treated like a dirty little secret that is really uncomfortable to approach or talk about. The more open the dialogue on suicide, the better we become to understanding why people feel this is the only resolution to their troubles. Perhaps it may stop individuals thinking this is their only choice with something that has become all encompassing in their lives.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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stirling voter:
09 Feb 2010 9:41:20am
Boy this professor obviously never read political news. Carmen Lawrence had her whole career destroyed by a family blaming her for a person commiting suicide. The whole accuracy of the situation was overlooked by the emotion. No wonder no politician wants any in depth reporting of suicide. WA media set this cause back about 50 years and WA media still do the trial by media over here on all sorts of subjects.
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Jan:
09 Feb 2010 9:42:19am
Bullying is not the only cause of suicide.
Also, bullies are often themselves the victim of bullying and they take out their frustrations on others. So it is not just good person/bad person.
My son was bullied in primary school. I only discovered many years later that he 'solved' the problem by hiring two 'hit men' (class mates of somewhat maleable persuasion, and large physically) and did their homework for them in return for services rendered. It worked for him, but who was then the victim?
Since most of us appear to have been/are being bullied, then it follows that most of us are also bullies at times.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Kevin:
09 Feb 2010 9:44:09am
There are 2 key issues here:
Bullying is a sociopathic behaviour that has existed throughout time. Sure it seems more prevalent lately but that's probably only because of media reportage. Bullying is repugnant, anti social and unnecessary. As a society we need to do all we can to stamp it out, and if necessary criminalise it.
More important however is the issue of victimism. We all know the best way to handle a bully is to simply refuse to be a victim. We need to focus more on how we nurture our young people and to provide them with practical techniques to avoid becoming victims of bullies. Collectively our children need to know that society stands with them when they stand up to bullies. This pushing back needs to become the standard cultural behaviour of our schools, institutions and work places.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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How:
09 Feb 2010 10:41:51am
my daughter was so severely bullied at school that I went to see the principal. his only concern was about the bully, because "he's a great runner, he'll win medals for the school" - talk about having the priorities right!
at the moment, anti-bullying laws are all on paper, but nothing happens in reality. as mentioned above, any business will protect the highest guy/gal in the hierarchy, even if he/she is the bully - laws are not followedAgree (0) Alert moderator
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Mental Health Worker:
09 Feb 2010 9:44:29am
Didn't anyone read the post by Mel? After the location of the well known suicide location was more widely publicized, the rate jumped fourfold. This is the reason that media cooperates generally in not publicizing suicides at this time. Suicides rates increase as copycat attempts rise after media attention. Its got little to do with whether its newsworthy or not.
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werdan:
09 Feb 2010 10:23:43am
They increased four-fold? Or just four-fold in that location? There aren't enough fences in the world to stop someone from jumping if that's what they want to do. At least a popular suicide location could be patrolled for people in trouble.
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Greenkiller:
09 Feb 2010 10:06:58am
Having been a newspaper journalist in a regional area known for its high rate of young suicides, let me say that even if media guidelines were changed there would continue to be a great reluctance to report individual suicides in the country. Journalists have to live and work in these communities. To be sure, the social stigma against suicide still prevails and this is probably the main reason why.
I did try to write some stories after the friend of a friend took his own life. You'd be surprised how difficult it was to get people to talk about suicide, and how hard it was to get relevant statistics. Many didn't want to face the facts. Regional communities often regard it as a collective failure on their part to recognise when a young man's (it's almost always a young man) risk-taking behaviour is indicating the possibility of a suicide, just as they often have difficulty with other indicators that life in the country is sometimes not all it's cracked up to be: high rates of drink-driving deaths, surprisingly high rates of illicit drug use, the relative lack of opportunities, services and amenities. They do not welcome the scrutiny suicide places on their communities.
That said, the media has a role to play in raising awareness and I think some guidelines should be changed.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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renz:
09 Feb 2010 10:14:46am
I think we are missing the point here a little. The question being askes is "Do you think that the Australian media sould rethink it's approach to reporting on suicide?"
Suicide is a very serious subject that needs to be treated as such. Media reporting that tries to profit from the pain of others, buy into the blame game etc is not what is needed. Disclosing places where people die and how they die is just gossip journalism; it serves no useful purpose.
Intelligent reporting is what is needed inorder to educated people and to put the pressure on government to give real support to our crumbling mental health system.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Al:
09 Feb 2010 10:19:47am
I am interested to see if anyone out there has any statistics over , say a 50 yr period to see if suicide rates [ particularly youth ] have increased. I suspect that they probably have. Maybe schools could introduce simple " life skills" classes to assist kids with esteem problems etc. I know that this should be in the parental domain, however , our kids are growing up in a completely different environment than ours [ I am 50 yrs old with 8 kids], with all its complexities
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Steven:
09 Feb 2010 10:25:46am
Yes, they should report it more. Because there are some people in this world that need to see what their actions can do to other people. Also it would help other family and friends maybe realise someone needs help. It may also encourage people at risk to see what else can happen and seek help. Yes, no doubt, report it a lot more.
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David:
09 Feb 2010 10:26:39am
What sort of reporting are we talking about? Some types of reports could encourage copy cat suicides. However, in the absence of the evidence, it is difficult to say one way or another whether any type of reporting on suicide would be a harmful or beneficial to the community.
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tinker:
09 Feb 2010 10:34:49am
Did someone mention Carmen Lawrence? Both she and others ( One now in a senior Federal ministerial position) were involved the Penny Easton affair, where ( as I recall it) an attempt to pin a extramarital affair on the then WA Premier unwound on the perpetrators. They thoroughly deserved the results of that grubby little attempt to bully. I still don't think Penny Easton's mother received the justice she deserved.
As to the matter in hand, I noticed the dignity with which the parents handle intrusive media attention.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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I would argue:
09 Feb 2010 10:36:22am
If we're talking about "media guidelines for reporting suicide" then new guidelines might include the extent of disclosure regarding the events leading to a suicide but might specifically exclude details such as the address of the bridge, brand of razor blade, etc.
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Francis:
09 Feb 2010 10:40:37am
The problem isn't reporting of suicides, the problem is that the media constantly promotes a superficial culture in which people are commoditized and worthless. The media manipulates our emotions so we may be controlled in profitable or politically advantageous directions and people are the casualties.
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