The influence of media on the stigma of suicide when a postsecondary student dies by suicide

This study investigated whether media articles from a postsecondary institution could influence students’ stigma toward suicide after a student dies by suicide. Undergraduate participants (N = 425) read a fictitious scenario about a student suicide and were randomly assigned to a control article (no mention of the suicide) or one of three intervention articles that acknowledged […]

Assessing vulnerability to surges in suicide-related tweets using Japan census data: Case-only study

Background: As the use of social media becomes more widespread, its impact on health cannot be ignored. However, limited research has been conducted on the relationship between social media and suicide. Little is known about individuals’ vulnerable to suicide, especially when social media suicide information is extremely prevalent. Objective: This study aims to identify the […]

The portrayal of suicidal behavior in police television series

Fictional suicidal behavior can affect the public as a risk or a protective factor, and it may reflect how suicide is perceived in a society. However, surprisingly little is known of how suicidal behavior is portrayed in television series. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of televised fatal and non-fatal suicidal […]

Evaluating the effectiveness of a website about masculinity and suicide to prompt help-seeking

Issue addressed A website was designed to form the core of a multimedia strategy surrounding the Man Up documentary – a three‐part documentary that aimed to address the problem of male suicide in Australia. Together these formed a media‐based, public health intervention that explored the link between masculinity and suicide and promoted help‐seeking. This is of great […]

Engaging Australian men in masculinity and suicide: A concept test of social media materials and a website

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Men dominate the suicide statistics and are less likely than women to seek help for emotional problems, and this has been linked to aspects of stoic masculinity. Promoting help-seeking and challenging stoic thinking may help to address this problem, but it is unclear what works in engaging men in these topics. METHODS: We […]

Framing suicide: Investigating the news media and public’s use of the problematic suicide referents Freitod and Selbstmord in German-speaking countries

Background: In German-speaking countries, suicide experts recommend not using the suicide referents Freitod and Selbstmord, as their associative meanings relate to problematic concepts such as free will and crime. Aims: To investigate which terms – the neutral and recommended Suizid or Freitod and Selbstmord – have dominated news coverage and to reveal what terms the public actually used. Method: A retrospective database study was undertaken on data from […]

A systematic review of mass media campaigns for suicide prevention: Understanding their efficacy and the mechanisms needed for successful behavioral and literacy change

Mass media campaigns are increasingly seen as an important part of suicide prevention; however, despite their popularity, their efficacy is not well understood. The current review aimed to address key knowledge gaps regarding how mass media campaigns can be optimized to prevent suicide, by looking at their global efficacy, and mechanisms related to successful outcomes. […]