Fact or Fiction? Reporting Mental Illness and Suicide

This document explores issues surrounding the media’s treatment of mental illness & suicide, including the effects of media on suicide, the importance of cultivating community understanding of mental health & mental illness, questions about public interest, & the myth of mental illness & violence. Recommendations for improving current reporting on such topics are presented, as are some general guidelines for professional reporting. A resource list for further research is also provided. (14 refs)