Psychiatric Expert Urges Media Practitioners to be Responsible in Reporting Cases of Suicide

Manila (PNA) — In line with the observance of World Suicide Prevention Day on Wednesday, a psychiatric expert has underscored some important reminders on the responsibility of media practitioners in reporting cases of suicide.

According to Dr. Rene Samaniego, a psychiatrist from the Makati Medical Center and a member of the Philippine Psychiatric Association Inc. (PPA), media practitioners should take the opportunity to educate the public about suicide and help in its prevention rather than be an instrument in influencing the “vulnerable individuals” to do it.

Dr. Samaniego said that media reports should dispel misconception and not mislead the public by attributing the suicide to a single cause, especially if the death is not yet fully investigated.

“Since media is a powerful tool, they (media practitioners) should avoid prominent placement and undue repetitions of stories about suicide or prevent a very detailed information about the site of complete or attempted suicide,” Samaniego told a health forum organized Tuesday at Annabel”s Restaurant in Tomas Morato, Quezon City by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP).

Samaniego explained that it is quite dangerous to keep on repeating how and where a suicide is done because there could be a tendency that such may give an “indirect idea” to a person thinking of suicide to imitate the same method.

The psychiatrist also stressed that factors leading to suicide are multiple, like severe depression, anxiety disorders, mental problems, psychosis (using alcohol and other drugs) and suicidal tendency aggravated by some serious family and relationship problems.

He said suicide can be prevented if a patient is given proper counselling and medications.

He further reminded that it is also important for the media to be cautious in publishing the photographs or video footage, especially those involving celebrity people, as a consideration for the bereaved family members.

Samaniego suggested that media as a powerful tool should provide information where to seek help if they notice that people they care about display some warning signs that may lead to the act of suicide.

“Some of these warning signs include irregular sleep, frequent crying, extreme change in appetite, when a person becomes anti-social, loss of interest on things that one previously had, describing himself/herself as a burden or stating that others would be better off without him/her, expressing hopelessness, guilt, shame, having no reason to live and others,” he said.

He further said that the media should also educate the public that it is important and very normal to receive counselling in case they notice that such behavior is exhibited by their loved ones in order to prevent the occurrence of suicide.

Dr. Samaniego shared that he is holding a clinic at the Makati Medical Center and can be reached through cellphone No. 0917-5401930 by those who want to seek psychiatric sessions or counselling at a very minimal fee.

During the same forum, it was disclosed that globally, over 800,000 people died of suicide, or equivalent to one death in 40 seconds.

The World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is a joint venture of the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Association for Suicide Prevention (ISPD) which coordinate their efforts and promote awareness about suicide and mental illnesses that can lead to suicide.

The two organizations advocate for suicide prevention everywhere. (PNA) SCS/LSJ