Suicide in the media and suicidal behavior in Portugal – contribution to a responsible news coverage
Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Suicide is a public health problem on a global scale and there is evidence that news coverage of suicide in the media can have an impact on the suicidal behavior of populations, specifically a mimetic effect. This research aimed to cover the lack of studies on the subject in Portugal. This thesis is composed by a set of four studies. The first and second studies investigate what Portuguese journalists and psychiatrists think about the subject, through online questionnaires and interviews. The third study analyzes how suicide is reported in different types of media (press, television, radio, online) over a period of 25 years, considering the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the selection of six suicides that occurred in Portugal. The fourth and final study explores how suicide mortality behaved in Portugal in the 5 months following four mediatized suicides, also occurred over 25 years. In this study, based on monthly suicide data stratified by gender, method and age groups, a Poisson regression model was conducted. The results revealed that suicide is (still) a taboo topic in Portugal, both in Portuguese newsrooms and among medical professionals who treat the illnesses that are behind most suicides, psychiatrists. However, these two professional groups are available to collaborate with each other to make suicide reporting more responsible and increase the mental health literacy of the population. The analysis of the media coverage of the six selected suicide cases revealed that, despite a positive evolution in suicide reporting over the last 25 years in Portugal, especially in terms of what should not be done, the recommendations for a responsible coverage of suicide with a preventive effect are mostly not implemented. The analysis of suicide mortality in Portugal revealed statistically significant increases in the number of deaths after the suicides of actor Pedro Lima, in June 2020, and of singer Cândida Branca Flor, in July 2001. In addition to the studies, another objective of this work was to create an online platform aimed mainly to the Portuguese media professionals and journalism students, with recommendations of good practice and examples for news coverage of suicides. The website was officially launched on World Suicide Prevention Day 2021, with the support from the Campanha Nacional de Prevenção do Suicídio, after being submitted to the appreciation and approval of Ordem dos Médicos – Colégio da Especialidade de Psiquiatria.
Author: Ribeiro, Eudora Maria de Castro
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7034285028