<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2017-0005_s_333_w2aab3b8b2b1b7b1aab1c15b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>The existing literature provides evidence of the link between media reporting and suicide in terms of either preventive or provocative effects. Hence, working with media representatives on responsible reporting on suicide is of great importance. Until recently in Slovenia, there has been an obvious lack of communication between media representatives and suicidologists. The aims of the present study were twofold; firstly, to introduce the adaptation and dissemination of intervention on responsible media reporting, and secondly, to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented intervention on suicide reporting.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2017-0005_s_334_w2aab3b8b2b1b7b1aab1c15b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>We used a pre-post research design. Newspaper articles were retrieved over two 12-month periods: the baseline period and the follow-up period. In between, we had a year of implementation of our intervention program (launching and disseminating the Guidelines via workshops). Each retrieved article was rated qualitatively with respect to its adherence to the Guidelines.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2017-0005_s_335_w2aab3b8b2b1b7b1aab1c15b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The comparison of baseline and follow-up periods revealed some significant differences. Reporting in the follow-up period was less sensationalistic, there was less reporting about specific cases of suicides and more about causes of suicide and pathways out of mental distress. Furthermore, in the follow-up period, there was a significant improvement related to headlines of media articles. Contact information about where to seek help was more often included in the articles.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2017-0005_s_336_w2aab3b8b2b1b7b1aab1c15b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The findings are promising, but working with the media needs to be continuous and ongoing if sustainable results are to be achieved.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionThe existing literature provides evidence of the link between media reporting and suicide in terms of either preventive or provocative effects. Hence, working with media representatives on responsible reporting on suicide is of great importance. Until recently in Slovenia, there has been an obvious lack of communication between media representatives and suicidologists. The aims of the present study were twofold; firstly, to introduce the adaptation and dissemination of intervention on responsible media reporting, and secondly, to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented intervention on suicide reporting.MethodsWe used a pre-post research design. Newspaper articles were retrieved over two 12-month periods: the baseline period and the follow-up period. In between, we had a year of implementation of our intervention program (launching and disseminating the Guidelines via workshops). Each retrieved article was rated qualitatively with respect to its adherence to the Guidelines.ResultsThe comparison of baseline and follow-up periods revealed some significant differences. Reporting in the follow-up period was less sensationalistic, there was less reporting about specific cases of suicides and more about causes of suicide and pathways out of mental distress. Furthermore, in the follow-up period, there was a significant improvement related to headlines of media articles. Contact information about where to seek help was more often included in the articles.ConclusionThe findings are promising, but working with the media needs to be continuous and ongoing if sustainable results are to be achieved.

The adaptation and implementation of guidelines for responsible media reporting on suicide in Slovenia

National Institute of Public Health, Department of Health Research, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana,

University of Primorska, Andrej Marusic Institute, Slovene Center for Suicide Research & FAMNIT, Department of Psychology, Muzejski trg 2, 6000 Koper,

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Department of Psychology, Askerceva 2, 1000 Ljubljana,

Griffith University, Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt Campus, QLD 4122,

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

PRIREDBA IN IMPLEMENTACIJA STROKOVNIH SMERNIC ZA ODGOVORNO NOVINARSKO POROČANJE O SAMOMORU V SLOVENIJI

IntroductionThe existing literature provides evidence of the link between media reporting and suicide in terms of either preventive or provocative effects....

	Baseline(N=201)	Follow up(N=141)	P
Guidelines – The provocative aspect
Headlines	117 / 200 (59)	61 / 141 (43)	.004
Inappropriate photographic material	34 / 133 (26)	37 / 85 (44)	-- No test was applied here, as the change was contrary to the one expected, if this individual guideline for responsible reporting had been effectively implemented.
Detailed descriptions of a suicide method	106 / 133 (80)	56 / 71 (79)	.513
Detailed descriptions of a suicide location	84 / 118 (71)	45 / 69 (65)	.245
Guidelines – The preventive aspect
Informing the public about the reasons for suicide	35 / 200 (18)	54 / 132 (41)	< .001
Non-sensationalistic writing style	65 / 200 (33)	77 / 140 (55)	< .001
Careful writing about VIP suicides	3 / 11 (27)	2 / 5 (40)	.516
Displays of empathy towards the grieving	19 / 60 (32)	17 / 71 (24)	.215
Stating suicide-prevention resources (e. g., emergency line phone numbers)	6 / 201 (3)	12 / 137 (9)	.020
General information about suicide-prevention resources	21 / 201 (10)	32 / 139 (23)	.002
Real-life stories of those who overcame their hardships	2 / 200 (1)	7 / 133 (5)	.023

The adaptation and implementation of guidelines for responsible media reporting on suicide in Slovenia

Article Category: Original scientific article

Publicado en línea: 28 jul 2016

Páginas: 31 - 38

Recibido: 18 ene 2016

Aceptado: 10 jun 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2017-0005

Palabras clave
suicide, prevention, media guidelines

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

The number (and percentage in parentheses) of articles in which guideline criteria were present both at the baseline and the follow-up period.

The adaptation and implementation of guidelines for responsible media reporting on suicide in Slovenia

Article Category: Original scientific article

Publicado en línea: 28 jul 2016

Páginas: 31 - 38

Recibido: 18 ene 2016

Aceptado: 10 jun 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2017-0005

Palabras clavesuicide, prevention, media guidelines

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

The number (and percentage in parentheses) of articles in which guideline criteria were present both at the baseline and the follow-up period.

Palabras clave
suicide, prevention, media guidelines