SN Method and the news

[TowerUpright]

Does anyone have any ideas why there is little to no news coverage of SN as a suicide method? I'd picture some expose by some sensational TV show, or the like. Or is there just an unwritten rule not to talk about suicide methods?

 

[WhyWasIBorn]

Like you said there's probably never any release of information to exactly what caused the suicide. If you google it though you can find literature on it specifically.

 

[bluesky1972-2019]

You very rarely, if ever, hear about what actual method was used in suicide reports in the media. I guess it's more of a control thing by society to stop people who want to ctb copying the methods used.
In fact the word suicide isn't really used. It's always something like "the police aren't seeking anyone else in connection to the death".

 

[arelia]

High profile/novel deaths will usually trigger a spike, so the media in the UK is asked to report sensitively and it's outlined in the code of conduct.
https://www.ipso.co.uk/member-publi...ts-and-editors/guidance-on-reporting-suicide/ The code is quite long but the research evidence section is interesting:

'Researchers in Taiwan found that increases in the reporting of suicides involving charcoal were associated with increases in the incidence of suicides using the same method on the following day, with each reported news item being associated with a 16% increase in next day suicides. There was no corresponding decrease in other methods of suicide. In Vienna, rates of suicide on the subway system decreased significantly after the imposition of new media guidelines which included restricting the amount of detail given about the method of suicide. '

They're flogging a bit of a dead horse (pardon the pun) these days though, it's just not possible to hide the method with all the other ways to get news.

There was some research done after the death of Robin Williams, with the vast majority of the spike using the same method (hanging) as him.

Suicides Spiked Following the Death of Robin Williams

One tragedy appears to have inspired others.

psmag.com

I'm sure there are pics around if you dig deep enough but this article has a pretty good description of what he did.

Grim details of Robin Williams' death released by investigators

The grim details of the death of comedian and actor Robin Williams were released Tuesday...

www.sfgate.com

 

[Codieb1]

I find it pretty odd that when people think suicide, the "stock image" is essentially a person hanging from a rope. As a large suicide forum with SN being one of, if not, the most popular method on this site, it feels weird not hearing more about this. Hanging is really the only thing that's "normalised" when it comes to the topic. Overall, it's a taboo topic and no media outlet wants to talk in depth about details.

 

[k75]

I also think we exist in kind of a bubble here. It's common in this community, but I don't think it's actually that common in "real life." I might be completely wrong, but I don't think it's really on the general public's radar. Hell, I'd never even consciously heard of the stuff until I went digging for methods and found SS. Even then, it was like, wait... that's a thing?

 

[Soul]

Considering the hysterical media spotlight that disrupted this site in May it seems odd to say SN is overlooked by the media. But insofar as it is, let's hope it stays that way.

 

[Baskol1]

Considering the hysterical media spotlight that disrupted this site in May it seems odd to say SN is overlooked by the media. But insofar as it is, let's hope it stays that way.

Fortunately were still not very well known. of course this could change someday. If we have about 50k or 100k members.

 

[Roger]

In UK there's already a system for controlling the sale of SN. So far it is not all that restrictive and SN sales are only categorized as legally "Reportable" rather than "Regulated."

Watch this space.

 

[Roger]

someday. If we have about 50k or 100k members.

Just think what my IGNORE list will be like !