A new set of best practices, “Best Practices for Medico-Legal Professionals Who Work with the Media,” has been released by leading experts Daniel J. Reidenberg, Psy.D., Mark Sinyor, M.D., and Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, Ph.D., MMSc. The comprehensive guide, endorsed by the IASP Special Interest Group on Suicide and the Media, aims to support law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, forensic experts, and public health information officers in effectively and responsibly working with the media on sensitive issues surrounding suicide.
Drawing from a broad body of international research, the recommendations focus on minimising the risk of suicide contagion (imitative suicide) by providing guidance on the safe handling of information about suicide methods, locations, and data. It emphasises the importance of delivering messages that highlight hope and recovery, thereby potentially reducing suicide rates.
The document also stresses the need for professionals to be cautious when discussing novel methods, specific locations, or short-term data spikes, all of which can influence public perception and behaviour. Additionally, the guide recommends directing journalists to reliable resources, such as the World Health Organisation’s media reporting guidelines, to promote safe and accurate reporting on suicide.
Medico-legal professionals play a key role in shaping public understanding of suicide through their interactions with the media, and this set of best practices is designed to ensure that such communications are safe, ethical, and in line with international standards.
For further details, visit the WHO’s Media Reporting guide here.
Read more information on the work of IASP’s Suicide and the Media Special Interest Group here.
