From Dr Sean Thum
Suicide remains a deeply sensitive and complex issue, yet its portrayal in the media often exacerbates rather than alleviates the problem.
In Malaysia, media guidelines for reporting suicide exist, but in an era where online engagement is driven by sensationalism and clicks, adherence to these guidelines has been inconsistent at best.
In February alone, two separate cases published by a Malay daily and an online portal demonstrated blatant disregard for responsible reporting practices.
These incidents highlight a troubling trend: many media outlets either ignore or are unaware of best practices when reporting on suicide, potentially increasing the risk of copycat incidents.
The first version of Malaysias Guidelines for Media Reporting of Suicide was introduced in the early 2000s, emphasising several key recommendations.
These include avoiding sensational coverage, minimising reporting where possible, omitting detailed descriptions of suicide methods, and including helpline information for those in distress.
However, these guidelines are frequently neglected. For instance, the report on the daily failed to include a helpline number, an essential safeguard for those who may be vulnerable.
Irresponsible reporting can contribute to a well-documented phenomenon known as suicide contagion, where exposure to detailed suicide reports increases the likelihood of similar acts, particularly among at-risk individuals.
The Werther Effect, named after Goethes novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, exemplifies how media portrayals of suicide can lead to copycat cases.
Studies have demonstrated that when the media provides explicit details about suicide methods, reports a case repeatedly, or portrays suicide as an inevitable response to hardship, vulnerable individuals may be influenced to take similar actions.
In contrast, the Papageno effect suggests that responsible reporting, where media stories highlight help-seeking, resilience, and recovery, can actually reduce suicide risk.
This is why it is crucial that Malaysian media follow reporting guidelines strictly, as their influence on public perception is significant.
There are two major gaps that need to be addressed: outdated guidelines and the lack of proper enforcement mechanisms.
Firstly, there is a need to update Malaysias suicide reporting guidelines to be in line with the digital era.
Malaysias existing guidelines were formulated in a media landscape dominated by traditional print and broadcast journalism.
However, with the rise of digital media, independent platforms, and social media-driven news cycles, the dynamics of how suicide is reported and discussed have changed significantly.
Viral posts, TikTok videos, and X (formerly Twitter) threads often provide unfiltered, speculative, or graphic details about suicide cases, amplifying harmful narratives.
Many of these platforms operate outside traditional journalism ethics, making it even more difficult to regulate content responsibly.
An updated set of guidelines must address this new reality by including provisions for social media influencers, independent news creators, and user-generated content.
If media outlets are held to a standard, then digital platforms, where news spreads even faster, must also bear responsibility.
Hence, a revised set of guidelines must acknowledge these shifts and provide specific recommendations tailored for online platforms, including the responsibility of social media-based news outlets to moderate user comments that may glorify or trivialise suicide, and providing specific language recommendations to prevent dramatisation or romanticisation of suicide cases.
In addition, there should be guidelines for algorithm-driven platforms, ensuring that sensationalised reports do not gain undue traction.
This update should be developed in consultation with mental health professionals, journalists, and digital media experts.
Note that the updating of these guidelines is not merely a bureaucratic exercise but a necessary step in reducing preventable harm in an increasingly digital-first world.
Secondly, stronger enforcement mechanisms must be established to hold the media accountable.
A set of guidelines, no matter how well-crafted, is meaningless without proper enforcement.
As it is, many media outlets continue to flout existing recommendations without facing any consequences. There must be mechanisms in place to ensure compliance.
One possible solution is the establishment of an independent media body that oversees reporting conduct.
This body should be free from government influence to prevent political interference, but empowered to uphold journalistic integrity.
It should have the authority to issue penalties or corrective actions against media outlets that violate ethical reporting standards and be tasked with conducting remedial training for journalists and publishers who fail to adhere to suicide reporting guidelines.
The approach should balance both accountability and education, not just punishing violations, but also equipping journalists with the skills to report sensitively and ethically.
By doing so, we can foster a media culture that prioritises public well-being over sensationalism.
At its core, the medias responsibility extends beyond attracting readership; it shapes public discourse and influences vulnerable individuals.
Irresponsible reporting does not just affect one case, but fuels a culture of insensitivity and misinformation about mental health.
Conversely, responsible reporting can contribute to suicide prevention by shifting narratives toward hope, recovery, and support.
Discussing mental health and suicide in the media is important and can drive awareness and policy change.
However, the way it is reported matters.
There is a clear difference between journalism that educates the public and reporting that glorifies or oversimplifies suicide.
Ethical reporting does not mean suppressing information; it simply means presenting it in a way that minimises harm while still informing the public.
News outlets have the power to shape the conversation on suicide constructively.
Instead of focusing on morbid details, they should highlight solutions, expert insights, and stories of resilience.
A well-reported suicide story should not end in despair, but in a message of hope that help is available, that lives can be saved, and that suicide is preventable.
In an era where engagement metrics often dictate content, ethical journalism must not be sacrificed for clicks.
Updating Malaysias suicide reporting guidelines and ensuring compliance through an independent media ethics body are necessary steps toward responsible journalism.
Suicide is not just another headline but a public health crisis.
The media must recognise its role in shaping perceptions and take responsibility for reporting with care, accuracy, and integrity.
It is time for the industry to step up, not as passive bystanders, but as active participants in suicide prevention as well.
Dr Sean Thum is the special functions officer to deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching. He served as a doctor under the health ministry during the Covid-19 pandemic, including as a volunteer medical personnel in Sabah from October to December 2020.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.