When it comes to suicide prevention, words matter

WHEN Marilyn Monroe’s death by her own hand was sreported, suicides spiked. We must discuss the topic responsibly, and games that encourage self-harm must end, writes Jane Fynes-Clinton.

IF it were a disease, pandemonium and panic would reign.

Suicide snuffs out twice as many lives as road crashes and many more than melanoma.

Despite public awareness campaigns and extensive media training, the numbers of those dying at their own hand remain seemingly stubbornly, intractably high.

Every death is the loss of a precious life. Every death has a devastating ripple effect.

And every death by suicide is preventable.

Monday is World Suicide Prevention Day and this year’s theme is “working together to prevent suicide”.

We in so-called legacy media — newspapers, TV and radio — were historically wary of suicide, fearful that reporting on it might set off a wave of copycats or cause further harm.

There was good reason for that fear: when Marilyn Munroe died in 1962, suicide rates in the US spiked 12 per cent in the months that followed.

Marilyn Monroe’s suicide was reported at a time when there were no evidence-based guidelines on how to present the topic. (Pic: Supplied)

That her premature end was romanticised and elevated to some sort of ethereal mystery had the contradictory effect of spreading cold, harsh heartbreak and misery.

In reality, every death by suicide is a dreadful waste and a horror show and for too long, the media fumbled and stumbled, dealing with it either not at all or very badly.

But traditional media know better now, with clear, evidence-based guidelines put in place more than a decade ago that tells us how to discuss and present the topic safely.

Australian media — including those in news, stage and screen and professional communication — now have world’s-best practice thanks to the government-funded Mindframe initiatives.

But the time has come for the digital space and users of social media to step up and do better.

Thoughtless but well-meaning posts abound. Method is mentioned and the dead are glorified: both are considered dangerous for those vulnerable and struggling. Word choices are dangerous.

Worse, known trolls are somehow still allowed to promulgate their acid and bile.

Then there are so-called games.

The current concerns include the Momo suicide challenge, which is already being blamed for too many young people worldwide dying by suicide, and which picks up where Blue Whale and Slender Man left off in having the sole intent of driving young people to intentional self-harm.

Steve “Commando” Willis, R U OK? campaign director Katherine Newtown, Barry Du Bois, Steve Bastoni, and AFL player Mark Blicavs at the 2018 R U OK? launch. (Pic: Alison Wynd)

We can’t stand by and allow the purposeful damage to continue. There must be a greater prevalence of reporting to authorities and calling the reckless out on social media.

Every year in Australia, more than 65,000 people will attempt suicide and more than 2800 will die that way.

That is eight precious lives a day that are ended at their own hand — in anyone’s language, an utter tragedy.

The facts are cold: men have a far higher rate of completed suicides but women are far more likely to attempt it.

It is the leading cause of death of Australians aged 15 to 44 and while the rate of teen suicide is about three times what it was in the 1960s, other demographics are also concerning.

Middle-aged men and people living in remote areas are of particular concern and the rate of suicide in those aged over 65 is nearly three times the rate of the general population.

Nine in 10 suicides occur in the context of psychiatric disorders, with most being depression and three in four suicides occur in the first depressive episode.

We need to do better at looking up, listening and letting people know they matter.

Importantly, under the spotlight cast by next week’s marking of World Suicide Prevention Day on Monday and RU OK? Day on Thursday, it is important to be mindful of the words we use.

All lives are precious.

Dr Jane Fynes-Clinton is a journalist and University of the Sunshine Coast journalism lecturer.

@Janefynes

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

Mensline Australia on 1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467