Media hoping for easing of rules on reporting suicide

The media are hoping for an easing of restrictions on reporting suicide after the Chief Coroner's call to bring the issue out of the shadows.

The possibility of loosening reporting restrictions will be discussed at the Media Freedom Committee's meeting with the Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, on September 1.

Figures released by the Chief Coroner to The Press last week showed New Zealand's annual suicide toll was about 50 per cent higher than the road toll. While 541 Kiwis took their own lives last year, 384 died on the roads.

The media are restricted in what they can report on suicides under the Coroners Act 2006, which bars the release of all information except name, age, occupation and finding of self-inflicted death, unless releasing other information would do no harm.

The Chief Coroner said responsible reporting on suicide could save lives.

"My personal view is that there's room for some gentle opening up of things ... but it probably requires legislative change to restore the balance, and that's a matter for a conscience vote in Parliament."

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said he was "sympathetically disposed" to the Chief Coroner's comments.

"We need to take away the `mystery' of suicide without sensationalising or glorifying it," he said.

Newspaper Publishers' Association chief executive Tim Pankhurst said there had been a "shift in opinion" about the possible positive effects of reporting on suicide.

"There's starting to be a cautious recognition that the media actually can be part of the solution."

The Press has run a suicide series, Our Hidden Tragedy, over the past 10 days.

Issues highlighted included the high rate of suicide and lack of mental health services for prisoners, the stigma associated with mental health problems among Asians, the lack of gender and age-appropriate services for Maori and men, high levels of undiagnosed depression in over-85-year-olds, underfunding in the mental health service and New Zealand's high rate of youth suicide.

The series sparked a big reader response from families and from people who had attempted suicide.

Families said the secrecy around suicide made them feel they were alone in their struggle. They said wider reporting on the triggers and symptoms of suicide could have helped them recognise signs in their children or loved ones.

People who had considered or attempted suicide said they felt a strong sense of discrimination and misunderstanding over mental illness.

One reader said people had accused her of being selfish for wanting to take her life.

"Once people get to this state of mind they are not thinking rationally ... they genuinely think the world would be a better place without them," she said.

Some readers were unhappy about The Press printing statistical tables outlining the methods used by people who took their own lives.

Press editor Andrew Holden said the decision was based on the need to bring the issue out into the open.

"We received huge feedback throughout the week, with the majority supporting greater discussion and information," he said.

"The two main themes were support for those contemplating, or even attempting, suicide, and support for the families of those who had committed suicide. In both cases, there was a real need for this to be dramatically increased.

"I well understand concerns around whether the media will be responsible with more information on suicide, but to view media coverage as only negative and a risk misses the opportunity that we offer in helping the community deal with this problem."

- © Fairfax NZ News