How News Reports on Suicide Miss the Mark

News stories about suicide can sometimes make things worse. They might even encourage copycat behavior, especially when famous people are involved. A recent study dug into Irish news reports to see how often they break the rules for responsible reporting. The study looked at almost 3, 000 articles that didn't follow the guidelines set by Samaritans. These guidelines are meant to help reporters talk about suicide in a safe way. The most common mistake was not including helpline information. This was especially true for stories about celebrities. Over time, from 2019 to 2021, this problem got worse. Another big no-no was using the word "commit" when talking about suicide. This word can be seen as judgmental. The study also found that articles often broke multiple rules at once. For celebrity stories, the biggest issues were using graphic images and talking about the method of suicide. For non-celebrity stories, the main problems were discussing the method and giving too many location details. The study had some limits. It only looked at 20% of the guideline-breaking articles and didn't cover all the good things reporters do. It also didn't distinguish between stories about suicide attempts, thoughts, or deaths. So, what's the big deal? Well, the way news reports talk about suicide matters. It can influence how people think and act. The study suggests that reporters need more support to follow the guidelines, especially when it comes to celebrity suicides. It's a tricky topic, but getting it right can save lives.