IASP publishes the Reporting on Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic media resource

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) has developed the Reporting on Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic media resource.

The World Health Organization, in collaboration with various other organisations has developed media recommendations to aid journalists on best practices for covering suicide and self-harm related behaviours specifically during a pandemic.

The IASP Reporting on Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic resource provides tips for accurate, factual, fair, evidence-based, and non-sensational media reporting, with topics including:

• Reporting on a specific suicide

• Reporting on the suicide-pandemic issue

• Reporting on suicide as a public health issue

• Reporting on suicide data

• Reporting on suicide hotlines and emergencies

• Reporting on suicide related to hospitalisation.

With the world facing this health crisis and continuous emergency health reporting, it is important for the media to be able to quickly understand and consider these best practices.

The Reporting on Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic resource can be downloaded here.