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  • Samaritans' media guidelines

Codes of practice

Find out which Ofcom and IPSO codes relate to media coverage of suicide.

The main reporting regulations and codes of practice within the United Kingdom are:

The Ofcom Broadcasting Code

Section 2: Harm and Offence

Violence, dangerous behaviour and suicide

2.4 - Programmes must not include material (whether in individual programmes or in programmes taken together) which, taking into account the context, condones or glamorises violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour and is likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour.

Suicide and self-harm

2.5 - This rule reflects a continued concern about the impact of real or portrayed suicide, and self-harm, on those whose minds may be disturbed. Whilst it is always difficult to prove causality, various studies have shown that there may be a short-lived increase in particular methods of suicide portrayed on television. Broadcasters should consider whether detailed demonstrations of means or methods of suicide or self-harm are justified.

Protecting the Under-Eighteens

Rule 1.13 in Section One: Dangerous behaviour, or the portrayal of dangerous behaviour, that is likely to be easily imitable by children in a manner that is harmful:

  • must not be featured in programmes made primarily for children unless
    there is strong editorial justification;
  • must not be broadcast before the watershed (in the case of television) or when children are particularly likely to be listening (in the case of radio), unless there is editorial justification.

For the full code, please visit the OFCOM website.

Independent Press Standards Organisation's Code

Following some distressing media coverage that it was believed could encourage imitational suicides Samaritans and others made a submission to the PCC in January 2006 requesting a new sub-clause be introduced to the Editor’s Code to specifically address factual reporting and representation of suicide. This sub-clause was added to the Code, under the clause ‘Intrusion into grief or shock’.

A new version of the Editors’ Code was published in 2016. The clause on suicide was made a stand-alone clause.

Editors' Code 2016 clause on suicide

Clause 4: Intrusion into grief or shock

In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively. These provisions should not restrict the right to report legal proceedings.

Clause 5: Reporting suicide

When reporting suicide, to prevent simulative acts care should be taken to avoid excessive detail of the method used, while taking into account the media’s right to report legal proceedings.

For the full code, please visit the IPSO website.

Related links

For additional information, you may also want to visit:

  • National Union of Journalists Code of Conduct
  • British Board of Film Classification Guidelines
  • Committe of Advertising Practise Advertising Codes

If looking for codes of practice for Ireland, please visit:

  • Press Council of Ireland (clause 10)
  • Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

Samaritans' Media Guidelines

Samaritans' Media Guidelines help journalists report suicide and self-harm safely and responsibly.

Suicide facts for journalists

Suicide is a complex topic, these facts will help you understand more about suicide in the UK, including who is most at risk from media coverage.

Best practice suicide reporting tips

There are many ways for journalists to sensitively cover suicide. Download our Media Guidelines and read our best practice tips here.

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Samaritans is a charity registered in England and Wales (219432) and in Scotland (SC040604) and incorporated in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (757372). Samaritans Ireland is a charity registered in the Republic of Ireland (20033668) and incorporated in the Republic of Ireland as a company limited by guarantee (450409). Samaritans Enterprises is a private limited company (01451175).