Media Guidelines for Suicide Reporting


	Suicide Prevention
	Warning Signs
	If You Are Feeling Suicidal
	African American Suicide Fact Sheet (PDF)
	Facts About Suicide in the United States (PDF)
	Survivors of Suicide Fact Sheet (PDF)
	Elderly Suicide Fact Sheet (PDF)
	Understanding and Helping the Suicidal Individual (PDF)
	If You Are Worried about Someone Else
	Understanding Crisis Theory
	Links Between Suicide and Depression (PDF)
	Suicide Myths
	Youth Suicide Facts (PDF)
	Suicide Resources
	Media Guidelines for Suicide Reporting
	Helpline 2-1-1
	2-1-1 Big Bend Home

Are you a reporter who is working on a story related to suicide? If so, you may want to be aware of a phenomenon called "media-related suicide contagion."

Research studies have shown that prominent media stories about suicide are associated with a significant increase in suicide attempts within the media outlet's coverage area.

In order to help reporters and community officials learn about this problem and minimize the risks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and other organizations have endorsed a set of recommendations to consider when reporting about suicide. These recommendations include background information as well as examples of media reports that are more likely or less likely to promote suicide contagion.

Reference: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Copyright 2001-2007. All rights reserved. 2-1-1 Big Bend, Inc.
(formerly Telephone Counseling and Referral Service, Inc.)
Post Office Box 10950 Tallahassee, Florida 32302-2950
Counseling & Referrals: 2-1-1 or 850-617-6333
Administrative Phone: (850) 617-6348