您是繁忙的当地报纸上的初级记者。您的编辑要求您掩盖与父母一起住在镇上的年轻人的自杀。您去过他们的房子，但他们只会通过门与您交谈。很明显，他们不愿接受采访。您的编辑正在向您施加压力，要求您满足副本截止日期，并吸引读者。你做什么工作？

Our research study今天发表在BMC公共卫生描述了死者家属的角度like those portrayed in this vignette, and provides examples of conflicts between their need for privacy and journalists’ need to do their job. Among the 140 suicide-bereaved relatives or friends who responded to our online survey, many described perceptions of journalists’ intrusive behavior, a failure to consult them appropriately, and inaccuracy in reporting. However, some individuals described the press coverage as an opportunity to raise awareness and prevent further suicides.

撒玛利亚人已经出版了有关如何安全报告自杀的媒体指南和其他guidance on working with bereaved families，保护丧亲的亲戚免受不必要的困扰，并保护公众免受不负责任的报告的潜在伤害。这很重要，因为研究表明，自杀死亡的人处于greater risk of suicidethemselves, and insensitive reporting can increase their distress. It is also important because不负责任的报告与诱发更多自杀有关。支持媒体负责任地报告自杀是public health policy on suicide prevention。

Public health researchers recognize that journalists find themselves in a difficult position when expected to report on someone’s suicide, whether the deceased was in the public eye or otherwise. On reading our research findings Lorna Fraser, Samaritans’ Media Advice Service lead, commented:

“举报自杀可能是记者面临的最具挑战性的问题之一，他们必须在报告公共利益的话题之间取得平衡，并避免对丧亲亲人的悲伤和震惊的侵犯。由于围绕该主题的许多敏感性和风险，记者意识到媒体指南并遵循此最佳实践建议至关重要。我们经常听到亲人的家庭听到有关记者的方法的担忧，并且对他们所爱的人的死亡方式缺乏敏感性。我们要求记者牢记这些人可能会震惊和努力应对毁灭性的损失。他们甚至可能没有意识到他们的亲戚的死将在媒体上报告。许多人会认为这是一个个人问题，并重视私下悲伤的空间。除了我们的媒体指南外，撒玛利亚人还为媒体提供咨询服务。记者可以通过电子邮件向我们发送电子邮件：mediaadvice@samaritans.org。”

Sarah Bates, Executive Lead of theSupport after Suicide Partnershipadded “Suicide is absolutely devastating, and insensitive reporting of suicide can have a hugely damaging impact on both people directly affected by the death being reported, as well as anyone who has had a similar experience in the past, sometimes going back many years. At the same time, the press face real challenges when reporting on suicide in the public interest. There is such a need for responsible, informed, and sensitive reporting, consistent withSamaritans media guidelines。Reporting must put the grieving family, friends, colleagues and professionals at the heart of every journalists’ approach. As Lorna mentions, journalists are often involved very soon after a death is reported, often before support services are able to establish a relationship with a grieving family. Therefore, the journalist may suggest that the family nominate a ‘spokesperson’ who can act as a bridge between the press and those most impacted – and have honest, open, and sensitive communication. We feel that some of the vital aspects to responsible reporting include not giving too much detail when mentioning method or location, avoiding unnecessary use of images and always making sure that readers are directed towards the support that is available.”

Emma Bird，，，，a journalist and blogger who has experienced suicide bereavement herself, commented: “I welcome this research. Having lost my brother to suicide, I am now an unquestionably better journalist than I was before he died. I have the qualities that good journalists are supposed to have: I’m a good listener, I’m empathetic and people confide in me. But even so, if I had known back then what I know now, I wouldn’t have made such a hash up of door knocks and inquests. I have no qualms about suicides being reported but this must be done in a way that is sensitive to the bereaved and with an awareness for what they are going through.”

我们研究的一个关键信息是，如果采取了正确的方法，记者可以潜在地与亲人的亲戚合作，写一个尊重其隐私范围的故事，并避免歪曲死者。此外，通过提供有关如何联系适当的本地和国家支持来源的信息，新闻文章可以鼓励人们遇到情感问题或自杀思想寻求帮助。通过这种方式，新闻业可以用来积极目的，从而减少了对亲戚的困扰潜力，并加强了自杀预防信息的交流。