The news of #MissUSA2019 #CheslieKryst’s untimely death by #suicide on Jan. 30 stunned the world. Scrolling through breaking news headlines and #socialmedia feeds, many questioned how an accomplished lawyer, TV host, and social activist could have taken her own life at age 30.
Comments expressing condolences and well wishes to her family and friends poured in, along with reminders to always check in on friends and family members.
But for a certain group of people, headlines and #socialmedia posts with graphic details about Kryst’s death stirred up feelings of #hopelessness and despair of their own.
“While most people will ingest these things without having any kind of problem in relation to it, some small group of vulnerable people might be impacted in ways that are dangerous, even leading to #suicide contagion,” says Victor Schwartz, MD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at New York University #School of Medicine.
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#Suicidecontagion is “the process by which one or more suicides increase the risk of #suicidalbehavior in others,” according to the #AmericanAssociationofSuicidology.
#Media coverage of a death by #suicide plays a critical role in vulnerable people’s safety after such news, says Madelyn S. Gould, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York.
“There’s been a myriad of research in this area, and it’s clear that there’s a real impact of the #media on subsequent suicides, depending on how the story is shaped, how headlines are shaped, and the pictures that are included in the article,” she says. “It could be the difference between life and death for a vulnerable person who gets triggered by the way the story was written.” And news of celebrity suicides can lead to particularly harmful outcomes, Gould says.
“They [at-risk people] may have been identifying with that celebrity for years or envision a perfect life. ‘How could that person be vulnerable to #suicide?’” she says. “For another vulnerable person, it can make them feel even more hopeless about the situation.”
Shaping the story to offer hope to those who may be struggling with #suicidalthoughts, as well as sharing helpful resources, can make a huge difference, #suicideprevention experts say.
“Is it a story about hope and healing and encouraging health coping strategies, or is it glorification of someone’s death by #suicide?” Gould says.
“If the story presents #suicide as a ‘coping mechanism,’ then the greater number of those types of stories, unfortunately, the greater likelihood that there will be subsequent deaths by #suicide.”
WebMD spoke to #suicideprevention experts who analyzed #media outlets’ coverage of Kryst’s death. Read on for a look at how they say safe reporting practices could save lives.
One of the most universal principles is not reporting the method by which the #suicide took place.
Information about location and time, and other sensitive material, like photos, videos, or mention of #suicide notes, should also be largely avoided.
“Things like method or very graphic details about someone’s death from #suicide can have a tendency to provide a way for people to identify with that death,” says Chris Maxwell, director of public relations and #media at the #AmericanAssociationofSuicidology.
It’s also important to steer clear of overly emotional or dramatic language when reporting on deaths by #suicide, which can run counter to certain aspects of journalism, says Schwartz.
“The fundamental problem with reporting on celebrity #suicide is that if you look at the guidelines for safe reporting, they’re almost exactly the opposite of what journalists are typically trained to do,” he says. “We’re trying to have it not be incendiary, exciting, interesting, or romantic.” The experts help us analyze different outlets’ headlines and reporting of Kryst’s death to better understand how #media can cover #suicide safely and effectively.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
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“That’s fairly objective,” Maxwell says. “At least in the headline or the subheading, there’s not necessarily a method. #Suicide isn’t directly mentioned.”
“In mentioning #suicide in general, we have to have a balance. It’s OK to say someone dies by #suicide without necessarily talking about a method.”
“They immediately say she jumped to her death and tell us from where, and then describe the building, so they are describing the actual #suicide and the means to #suicide,” Schwartz says.
“Journalists are walking a kind of tightrope here, because if you present this like it’s a clinical research paper, people could accuse you of being heartless. But you don’t have to open up the article with describing how she jumped from the 29th floor of a particular building and what time.”
“I would absolutely not include anything about jumping from a high-rise,” Maxwell says. “It’s outside of any sort of guidelines or recommendations.”
“These pictures are totally irresponsible, with no opportunity to be talking about treatment for #depression or calling the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline — which will soon be accessed by calling, chatting or texting 988 — folks can call, chat, or text if they are worried about someone else or if they are suicidal themselves,” Gould says.
“’Her body was found in a Manhattan neighborhood near Times Square’ — that’s an interesting way to phrase it,” says Maxwell.
“I can’t imagine that adding anything to the story. Saying that she died, and that she accomplished all these things, seems much more core to the story and much more effective at talking about who she was. That’s what we should be focusing on.”
Social Media Considerations
#Socialmedia posts about deaths by #suicide can be tricky, since these platforms also serve as a space for healing and unity between those who have been affected by #suicide, says Dimple Patel, PsyD, a therapist and board member of the #AmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention’s Illinois chapter.
“I’ve met so many people on #Instagram, #TikTok, and #Facebook who I’ve connected through shared experience of losing someone or being in that griefprocess,” says Patel, who lost her mother to #suicide in 2011.
“There is a form of community there for those who are struggling. They can connect with people who are feeling the same way.”
But problems can also arise, especially if posts aren’t closely monitored, which ultimately reflects the “pros and cons of #socialmedia,” says Aneri Pattani, a Kaiser Health News reporter and 2021 Bloomberg fellow at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
“You have the ability to talk about an issue that is often stigmatized and that is not talked about, which can also be detrimental,” Pattani says. “So, in some ways, that’s great that it brings the conversation forward like that and to people on a platform where they might be more comfortable engaging with it.”
“At the same time, you have no idea when you put something on #socialmedia who it’s going to reach and what state they’re going to be in.”
“As someone is seeing your story or call out, if they are in a vulnerable position, they are also finding the resources right there and then,” Pattani says.
Joining Forces
Having advocates within journalism promoting safe reporting practices through training and dialogue with colleagues can be a big part of bringing about change, says Gould.
And some journalists in the field have already begun this work.
Pattani and Holly Wilcox, PhD, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, are joining forces with Johns Hopkins and the Bloomberg American Health Initiative to create a free course for journalists that teaches responsible reporting practices.
The course, which will be available on Coursera, will focus on #suicide as a public health issue and will share research on how #media reporting can affect #suicide rates.
It will also offer practical tips for reporting on #suicide, such as how to interview sources sensitively, along with information on pitching, editing, and producing stories on various formats, including video and audio, Pattani says.
The course is expected to be made public this summer.
“We’re hoping we can get working journalists, as well as #highschool and college journalists who are learning, to use this course, so they have the skills and knowledge when they’re starting off in the field about how to report on this issue,” says Pattani.
But reporters aren’t the only ones who could greatly benefit from these types of resources, according to Schwartz.
“A lot of #mentalhealthprofessionals are simply not aware of these #media issues and that how #mentalhealthprofessionals speak to the #media about #suicide matters also,” says Schwartz. “The goal of these efforts is not to tell journalists that they are bad people. We want to educate people who need to be educated on both fronts about these issues.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with #suicidalthoughts, please call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or go here for more resources.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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