Codes of Practice
Codes of practice on reporting and portraying suicide and mental illness
Most media sectors have codes on reporting and portrayal of suicide.
While some also mention reporting and portrayal of mental or intellectual disability, mental illness is rarely specified.
For complete copies of listed codes of practice, please visit the respective websites provided.
Print
Australian Press Council (APC)
www.presscouncil.org.au/
The APC released revised reporting guidelines on suicide in July 2001.
The guidelines call on the press to continue exercising care and responsibility in reporting suicide and mental illness.
The APC believes that papers are already aware of the desirability of avoiding:
- adding to the pain of relatives and friends of the deceased;
- any reporting which might encourage copy-cat suicide or self-harm;
- unnecessary reference to details of method or place of a suicide;
- language or presentation which trivialises, romanticises, or glorifies suicide, particularly in papers which target a youth readership;
- loose or slang use of terms to describe various forms of mental illness, and the risk of stigmatising vulnerable people that may accompany such labels.
The APC also recommends that articles dealing with suicide include reference to counselling services available to people in distress and their families, with contact details.
Since the APC takes the view that some suicides will be reported, as a matter of public interest, it does not advocate precise rules or guidelines. Instead, the APC prefers to encourage responsible approaches to the reporting of suicide and mental illness, and consultation with reputable associations, research centres, counselling services and health authorities when seeking comment for articles on these issues.
The APC's updated statement of principles (re-issued in February 2009) says publications should not place any gratuitous emphasis on "...illness, an individual or group. Where it is relevant and in the public interest, publications may report and express opinions in these areas."
Broadcast
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) helps the television, radio and internet industries to develop codes of practice relating to content and complaints handling and investigates complaints about inappropriate content on broadcasting services and the internet.
Industry codes and standards are registered with ACMA.
FreeTV Australia
The content of free-to-air commercial television is regulated under the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, which has been developed by Free TV Australia and registered with the ACMA.
The Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice (amended 2008) says that news and current affairs programs:
- should broadcast reports of suicide or attempted suicide only where there is an identifiable public interest reason to do so, and should exclude any detailed description of the method used. The report must be straightforward and must not include graphic details or images, or glamorise suicide in any way;
- must not portray any person or group of persons in a negative light by placing gratuitous emphasis on...mental disability. Nevertheless, where it is in the public interest, licensees may report events and broadcast comments in which such matters are raised.
The 2008 code of practice further stipulates:
- unsuitable for television: Realistic depiction of methods of suicde, or promotion or encouragement of suicide;
- General (G) Classification: Only limited and careful verbal reference to suicide absolutely justified by the story line or program context, not presented as romantic, heroic, alluring or normal;
- Parental Guidance Recommended (PG) Classification: Visual depiction of and must be inexplicit and restrained, as the meas of achieving a desired depression or other problems;
- Mature (M) Classification: Suicide must not be promoted or encouraged methods of suicide must not be shown in realistic detail; and
- Mature Audience (MA) Classification and the Adult Violence (AV) Classification: Methods of suicide should not be shown on program and must not promote or encourage suicide.
Commercial Radio Australia Ltd
In its 2004 code of practice the commercial radio industry provides that:
- a licensee must not broadcast a program which depicts suicide favourably or as a means of achieving a desired result, or which
- is likely to incite or perpetuate hatred against or vilify any person or group on the basis of ... mental disability.
The 2004 codes of practice also includes guidelines and explanatory notes on the portrayal of suicide and mental illness on commercial radio. These guidelines outline that stations should avoid depicting suicide favourably or presenting it as a means of achieving a desired result by:
- checking that the language used does not glamorise or sensationalise suicide, or present suicide as a solution to problems;
- avoiding an approach which glamorises or sensationalises celebrity suicide; and
- excluding detailed descriptions about method of suicide.
The guidelines further state that licensees should avoid broadcasting a program that stigmatises or vilifies people in the community who are living with a mental illness by:
- avoiding the use of certain derogatory terminology; and
- remembering that people with a mental illness are not inherently violent, unable to work, weak or unable to get well.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
ABC general code of practice (updated July 2008), says that:
- suicide is a legitimate subject in ABC content. The depiction or description of suicide must be handled with extreme sensitivity. Care must be taken to ensure that events or methods depicted or described do not encourage others to copy these actions;
- to avoid discrimination and stereotyping, content should not use language or images which...are not representative and reinforce stereotypes, or convey stereotypic assumptions;
- sensitivity will be exercised in broadcasting images of or interviews with bereaved relatives.
Editorial policies (updated March 2009), further state that:
- suicide is a legitimate subject for news coverage; however, reporting of suicide may encourage other attempts and the ABC tries not to add to this risk. A step-by-step description can prompt vulnerable people to act. If reported at all, suicides should be described in moderate terms and should avoid graphic details of method and location, particularly when the method is unusual;
- sensitive use of language is also important. Check that language used does not glamorise or sensationalise suicide or present suicide as a solution to problems;
- celebrity suicide is reported where it is considered to be in the public interest. Coverage of celebrity suicide can glamorise or prompt imitation suicide, therefore avoid detailed descriptions of method and location;
- there are legal restrictions in New South Wales and Queensland on reporting coronial inquests of possible suicides;
- people with disabilities generally prefer terms which acknowledge the person ahead of their condition, for example: People with schizophrenia...instead of schizophrenic; and
- the public is sensitive to the coverage of distressed survivors, witnesses or bereaved relatives of...suicides...
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
The 2006 Codes of Practice for General Programming contains sections relating to both mental illness and suicide.
In relation to mental illness:
In relation to suicide:
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Suicide is a legitimate subject for programming but one that should be portrayed with a high degree of sensitivity. Care should be taken to avoid describing or showing methods of suicide in any great detail. Program makers should be alert to the dangers of making such behaviour attractive to the vulnerable. Where methods are described, program makers should have regard to context and editorial requirements.
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…In covering...suicides..., SBS expects its program makers to exercise great sensitivity, particularly when approaching, interviewing and portraying people who are distressed. SBS will report suicides only when such reporting is in the public interest and in accordance with legal restrictions in some states prohibiting the publication of a finding of suicide by a coroner unless the coroner has made an order allowing publication. Any reporting of suicide will be in moderate terms, usually avoiding details of the method...
Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
Codes of practice for both TV and radio state that broadcasters:
- will not broadcast material that may glamorise, sensationalise, or present suicide as a solution to life problems. In particular, broadcast material should not provide explicit details about the method and/or location of a suicide attempt or death;
- will not broadcast material that is likely to stereotype, incite, vilify, or perpetuate hatred against, or attempt to demean any person or group, on the basis of...mental ability...
Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA)
The 2003 ASTRA codes of practice state that in broadcasting news and current affairs programs to the extent practicable licensees will only broadcast reports of suicide or attempted suicide where there is an identifiable public interest to do so and will exclude any detailed description the method used and any graphic details and will not glamorise suicide in any way.
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
The Australian Journalists Association code of ethics says that journalists should respect private grief and personal privacy and never exploit a person's vulnerability or ignorance of media practice. Interviews should only be conducted after the informed consent of the interviewee.
Internet Industry Association
The 1999 Internet content code of practice requires Internet service providers to assist parents to regulate Internet use by children under 18.
Australian Record Industry Association Limited (ARIA)
The ARIA code of practice for labelling products with explicit or potentially offensive lyrics provides that albums which give instructions on how to commit suicide shall be refused classification and are not permitted to be sold.
Australian Association of National Advertisers (ANAA)
The ANAA code of ethics says that advertising or marketing communications to children must not demean any person or group on the basis of...mental disability.
International Guidelines
A number of international agencies - including media, suicide prevention and mental health bodies - have developed guidelines for media reporting. Many of these international guidelines are available from the International Association for Suicide Prevention website.
