Page 94 - Petelin Ana. Ur. 2022. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of children and adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 94
avje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents 94 is et al., 2006). The latter also increases with sensationalist reporting (e.g., sim-
plified explanation of risk factors, graphic representation of the method used)
(Samaritans, 2020).
One of the vulnerable groups particularly prone to imitate the behav-
iour displayed in the media or suicidal behaviour are adolescents (Gould, 2001),
among whom the internet and (new) media are particularly popular (Maloney
et al., 2014). In particular, the content published online can have an (even) great-
er influence on the users of these media (Pirkis & Nordentoft, 2011). In addi-
tion to (some) inappropriate media articles about suicide, other inappropriate
content is also available on the internet (e.g. chat rooms that allow discussions
about suicide, websites with factual information about suicide, and websites
that encourage suicidal behaviour) (Biddle et al., 2008), which can provide very
explicit descriptions of methods and information on how to obtain the desired
method (Pirkis & Nordentoft, 2011). The internet also enables interaction with
others who are thinking about or have accepting attitudes towards suicide, and
young people are among the groups most frequently exposed to such and sim-
ilar content (Dunlop et al., 2011).
Although the risk of imitating a suicide is higher if the person who died
by suicide was real (i.e. it was not a fictional character from a series or mov-
ie) (Pirkis & Nordentoft, 2011), adolescents tend to imitate the suicidal behav-
iour of a fictional person (Pirkis & Blood, 2010). A recent study (Bridge et al.
2020) confirmed the link between the release of the television series 13 Reasons
Why, which focuses on a 17-year-old girl death by suicide, and the rise in su-
icides among American adolescents. Because of their similar age and similar
problems, some adolescents who watched the series found it easier to identify
with the main character of the series and, in certain cases, to imitate her sui-
cide (Notredame et al., 2017), while other adolescents who had previously con-
templated suicide reported feeling worse after watching the series (Rosa et al.,
2019).
These findings highlight the need for the responsible and safe portray-
al of suicidal behaviour in media content since responsible reporting on sui-
cide can be a protective factor. Such content should, therefore, not contain in-
formation that could lead to identification with the deceased but should inform
about the topic, highlight sources of help, and tell stories of people who have
coped with distress in a constructive way (Maloney et al., 2014). Thoughtful re-
porting on suicide that does not sensationalise the topic but focuses on the real
consequences of an (attempted) suicide can reduce the risk of imitation (Pirk-
is & Blood, 2010).
For people in need, various (more or less) interactive websites raise aware-
ness, provide verified information and sources of help, and encourage a con-
structive solution to the distress (Barak & Grohol, 2011). One such website in
the Slovenian setting is the psychoeducational website zivziv.si, which aims to
raise awareness and provide information about suicidal behaviour. Preventive
measures can be important as they help young people to deal with the problem
plified explanation of risk factors, graphic representation of the method used)
(Samaritans, 2020).
One of the vulnerable groups particularly prone to imitate the behav-
iour displayed in the media or suicidal behaviour are adolescents (Gould, 2001),
among whom the internet and (new) media are particularly popular (Maloney
et al., 2014). In particular, the content published online can have an (even) great-
er influence on the users of these media (Pirkis & Nordentoft, 2011). In addi-
tion to (some) inappropriate media articles about suicide, other inappropriate
content is also available on the internet (e.g. chat rooms that allow discussions
about suicide, websites with factual information about suicide, and websites
that encourage suicidal behaviour) (Biddle et al., 2008), which can provide very
explicit descriptions of methods and information on how to obtain the desired
method (Pirkis & Nordentoft, 2011). The internet also enables interaction with
others who are thinking about or have accepting attitudes towards suicide, and
young people are among the groups most frequently exposed to such and sim-
ilar content (Dunlop et al., 2011).
Although the risk of imitating a suicide is higher if the person who died
by suicide was real (i.e. it was not a fictional character from a series or mov-
ie) (Pirkis & Nordentoft, 2011), adolescents tend to imitate the suicidal behav-
iour of a fictional person (Pirkis & Blood, 2010). A recent study (Bridge et al.
2020) confirmed the link between the release of the television series 13 Reasons
Why, which focuses on a 17-year-old girl death by suicide, and the rise in su-
icides among American adolescents. Because of their similar age and similar
problems, some adolescents who watched the series found it easier to identify
with the main character of the series and, in certain cases, to imitate her sui-
cide (Notredame et al., 2017), while other adolescents who had previously con-
templated suicide reported feeling worse after watching the series (Rosa et al.,
2019).
These findings highlight the need for the responsible and safe portray-
al of suicidal behaviour in media content since responsible reporting on sui-
cide can be a protective factor. Such content should, therefore, not contain in-
formation that could lead to identification with the deceased but should inform
about the topic, highlight sources of help, and tell stories of people who have
coped with distress in a constructive way (Maloney et al., 2014). Thoughtful re-
porting on suicide that does not sensationalise the topic but focuses on the real
consequences of an (attempted) suicide can reduce the risk of imitation (Pirk-
is & Blood, 2010).
For people in need, various (more or less) interactive websites raise aware-
ness, provide verified information and sources of help, and encourage a con-
structive solution to the distress (Barak & Grohol, 2011). One such website in
the Slovenian setting is the psychoeducational website zivziv.si, which aims to
raise awareness and provide information about suicidal behaviour. Preventive
measures can be important as they help young people to deal with the problem
