Abstract
We read with interest the article by Dr Pirkis and colleagues [1] on media reporting of suicide. Cultural factors are important in influencing media coverage of suicide, as evidenced when different studies performed in various countries are compared. An example is the cross-cultural investigation conducted by Fekete and Schmidtke [2], examining suicide related headlines in German and Hungarian newspapers. In the former they found that suicide was reported as criminal or psychiatric in nature, whereas in the latter it was depicted in a romantic manner. The investigators conjectured that this may partially account for the high rate of suicide in Hungary [3]. Suicide has powerful social and cultural determinants; not only was the scientific study of suicide born in a sociological environment [4], but nowadays for people in industrialized countries the sociocultural determinants are mixed with media messages and often they coincide with them. Recently, recommendations for the media have been developed by major American organizations that aim at preventing suicide, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, National Swedish Centre for Suicide Research and New Zealand Youth Suicide Prevention Strategies [5]. This document will hopefully constitute a common language for developing strategies for reducing the potential for induction of suicidal behaviour in vulnerable individuals by media portrayals. Countries worldwide should evaluate media attitudes toward suicide, and educate media about suicide. Also, examining the results of studies performed in various countries with different cultural backgrounds allows a deeper awareness of those styles of reporting that may increase imitative behaviour.