Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness for Indigenous Australians

This paper is based on a consultation conducted with Indigenous Australian communities in 2004 to gather information on their opinions & understandings about possible negative & positive effects of media coverage about suicide, mental health, & mental illness. This article summarises key issues raised in the consultations, reflects on discussions with Indigenous media, comments on how these issues are currently reflected or overlooked in media codes of practice & journalism ethics, & recommends some future directions in this area. (18 refs.)