GASP Trains Media on Ethical Suicide Reporting in Ghana

In a significant move towards addressing mental health issues in Ghana, the Association for Suicide Prevention Ghana (GASP) has held a media training to educate journalists on the dos and don’ts of reporting suicide cases. The initiative follows the passage of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill on March 29, 2023, by Parliament, which decriminalizes attempted suicide in Ghana. Under the new law, attempted suicide is now considered a mental health issue requiring legal assistance rather than a crime.

The training, aimed at guiding media personnel on appropriate and sensitive suicide reportage, emphasized the importance of adhering to guidelines that ensure accuracy and sensitivity. GASP, a leading organization in suicide prevention and mitigation, urged journalists to exercise caution in their reporting to avoid causing harm to vulnerable individuals.

During the workshop, participants engaged in group discussions, exploring key issues related to suicide reporting. Journalists were reminded of the critical need to protect the identities of suicide victims, survivors, and their families. The discussions highlighted the importance of circumspection when interviewing bereaved family members, friends, or individuals with lived experience of suicide. Special caution was advised when reporting on suicides involving celebrities or influential figures, as such coverage could potentially trigger imitative behavior among susceptible audiences.

The training also addressed the language used in suicide reporting, urging media professionals to avoid criminalizing or stigmatizing language. Participants were advised against using the word “suicide” in headlines unless the article focuses on prevention efforts. Additionally, journalists were instructed not to describe the methods used in suicides, to avoid attributing suicide to a single cause, and to refrain from using photographs or graphic images related to the incident. Specific details about the site or location of the suicide were also discouraged.

Given the growing concern over adolescent suicide, which lacks systematic studies and official statistics in Ghana, the guidelines stressed the importance of responsible reporting. For stories involving young people, the guidelines recommend avoiding detailed descriptions of suicide attempts, refraining from sharing videos or images, and focusing on hopeful narratives of individuals who have overcome suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Digital media platforms were also a focal point of the training, with guidelines provided on how to handle online suicide reports. Journalists were advised to ensure that their sources are credible and to hyperlink only to suicide-preventive or supportive content. Media managers and platform owners were encouraged to implement measures that prevent harmful comments from being posted, such as moderating or delaying comment displays, or deleting inappropriate remarks. The importance of adhering to the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), was also emphasized.

The training by GASP marks a crucial step in enhancing the role of the media in suicide prevention, ensuring that coverage is responsible, sensitive, and supportive of mental health efforts in Ghana.

By Madjid Diallo