Year: 2007 Source: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, v.37, no.3, (June 2007), p.278-283 SIEC No: 20070684

There is a paucity of studies examining which suicides are considered newsworthy. By combining data on media reports of individuals’ suicides with routinely collected suicide data, it was found that 1% of Australian suicides were reported over a 1-year period. There was evidence of over-reporting of suicides by older people and females, and those involving dramatic methods. Reported suicides fell into three groups: suicides reported in a broader context; suicides by celebrities; and suicides involving unusual circumstances/methods. The data suggest a need for media professionals and suicide experts to work together to balance newsworthiness against the risk of copycat behavior.