Media guidelines
Samaritans Media Guidelines are aimed at those reporting suicide
in any media, from factual description to dramatic portrayal.
These guidelines provide a valuable resource
for those in the media who have any involvement with the reporting
or portrayal of suicide and represent an important source of
information to help ensure that the quality of reporting and
portrayal on this important and sensitive topic is of a high
standard.
Professor Keith Hawton,
Director, Centre for Suicide Research, University of
Oxford.
Download the 2008 Media
Guidelines for the UK (700KB PDF document)
Download the 2009 Media
Guidelines for Ireland (1.5MB PDF document)
How the media can
help
A fine line remains between sensitive, intelligent reporting and
sensationalising the issue. But the sensitive reporting of suicide
and self-harm incidents means the media can:
- Offer advice for both people at risk and also worried families
and friends.
- Provide contact information for support services, to encourage
people at risk to seek help at an earlier stage.
- Raise awareness of the complexity of the issues surrounding
suicide.
Find out
more about how the media can help
How Samaritans can help
Samaritans’ Press Office is available 24 hours a day for
consultation on any media enquiry or sources of support:
During working hours: +44 (0)20 8394 8300
Out of hours contact: +44 (0)7943 809162
“I contacted the press team at Samaritans
late on a Friday evening and despite the time of the call I was
very well briefed and was given guidance as to how to handle the
story in a responsible manner. I was also provided with a comment
which enhanced my reporting and gave sound advice to people
potentially affected by the issue.”
Jennifer Sugden, Scottish
Daily Mail Reporter