Second Step pressure causes The Independent to rethink the way it reports suicide deaths 

A headline reporting the death of cricketer Graham Thorpe did not meet The Samaritans’ media guidelines. 

The way newspapers report the death of a celebrity has come under the spotlight after The Independent published a headline about Graham Thorpe’s death by suicide. Experts in suicide prevention pointed out that the headline, which referenced the specific method used, posed a risk of contagion, when people overidentify with a celebrity and become at risk of imitating their behaviour.  

The popular former England cricketer took his own life in August and his death was widely reported in the media. Thorpe represented his country 182 times and was highly regarded both on and off the field, however after his death his family revealed he had suffered with his mental health for a number of years. They said they had decided to speak publicly about his challenges to help break the stigma around men’s mental health and suicide. 

Responsible reporting

Marina O’Brien is Suicide Prevention and Specialist Suicide Bereavement Manager at Second Step and manages the Hope Project, which supports middle-aged men who are at risk of suicide. When she saw the headline, she immediately wrote to the newspaper’s editor urging a reprint of the article using the Samaritan’s media guidelines. These guidelines are considered the gold standard by suicide prevention experts around the world and give comprehensive advice to journalists and news organisations.  

Marina , who recently chaired the Institute of Government and Public Policy’s  National Suicide Prevention Conference said: 

‘At a time when suicide rates are at a 20-year high, we must be more responsible than ever about the way we talk about this issue. When I saw the headline, I was very frustrated that the Samaritans Reporting Guidelines had not been adhered to, and the headline was both irresponsible and dangerous.. 

‘We all need to think carefully about the way we talk about suicide, and the media have such an important role, setting the news agenda as they do. Suicide contagion is a very real risk, which is why it is vital we all follow the guidelines.’ 

Risk of contagion

When a celebrity or high-profile person dies by suicide there is a risk of an increase in suicide deaths using the method reported in the article. A study published in 2020 found that the risk of suicide contagion among the population in the weeks and months afterwards is up to 30 per cent¹. And that young people are particularly vulnerable to this kind of media coverage.  

That is why it is vital that news organisations use sensitive reporting. However, balancing high public interest in the death and an expectation of coverage with the understandable emotions surrounding the death of a well-known public figure can be challenging for reporters.   

So what are the key recommendations? 

• Avoid mentioning the methods of suicide, especially in the headline 

• Avoid headlines that sensationalise or oversimplify the circumstances of the death 

• Do not oversimplify the causes or perceived ‘triggers’ for a suicide 

• It is safer to avoid placing stories on the front page or homepage of a news site, or presented as the lead bulletin 

• Avoid overemphasising public outpourings of grief or using sensationalist or glamorised terms. 

• Focus on the life achievements of the person who has died and aim to portray their death as an avoidable, tragic waste of life 

• Remind your audience that suicide is preventable and signpost to sources of support, including the Samaritans 

Journalists reminded of policy

In an email managing editor, Richard Best, acknowledged that colleagues ‘did not go through the correct process when considering this headline’ and assured Marina that the article had been amended and journalists had been reminded of The Independent’s policy and procedures. 

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123, email: jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find your nearest branch. 

1. Samaritans’ Media Guidelines for Reporting Suicide Samaritans’ Media Guidelines ↩︎