The response ability project : integrating the reporting of suicide and mental illness into journalism curricula

The Response Ability Project is a collaboration between mental health professionals and journalism educators in Australia. It seeks to influence the pre-professional education of journalists so that graduates of university courses will be aware of, and are able to respond appropriately to, issues relating to suicide and mental illness. Importantly, the project situates this learning in the context of the core skills of journalism such as news writing, research, and interviewing. Multi-media resources were developed from pilot resources in 2001 and disseminated to Australian universities. This essay explores key achievements of the project, proposing a place for these issues in journalism curricula internationally

Suicide bereavement and the media: A qualitative study

While there has been international interest in the reporting of suicide and the potential impact on community behaviour, research has yet to consider the specific impact of media reporting on those bereaved by suicide. Nor has the research considered the potential impact that reports focussed on suicide bereavement may have on community behaviour. The suicide bereavement literature has generally focussed on describing the unique experiences and needs of people bereaved by suicide, but specific considerations, such as interaction with the media, are generally absent from the discussion. In the present study a series of focus groups with people bereaved by suicide and key informant interviews with media professionals, postvention workers, police, coroners and people bereaved by suicide were conducted. Results show that there can be considerable variation in how people bereaved by suicide view media coverage and the reported impacts that exposure to, or involvement in, stories about suicide can have. It highlights a need to consider resources and service models to brief and support those bereaved by suicide when interacting with the media and expansion of current resources and training for journalists that considers the challenges of interacting with people who are bereaved

Suicide bereavement and the media: A qualitative study

While there has been international interest in the reporting of suicide and the potential impact on community behaviour, research has yet to consider the specific impact of media reporting on those bereaved by suicide. Nor has the research considered the potential impact that reports focussed on suicide bereavement may have on community behaviour. The suicide bereavement literature has generally focussed on describing the unique experiences and needs of people bereaved by suicide, but specific considerations, such as interaction with the media, are generally absent from the discussion. In the present study a series of focus groups with people bereaved by suicide and key informant interviews with media professionals, postvention workers, police, coroners and people bereaved by suicide were conducted. Results show that there can be considerable variation in how people bereaved by suicide view media coverage and the reported impacts that exposure to, or involvement in, stories about suicide can have. It highlights a need to consider resources and service models to brief and support those bereaved by suicide when interacting with the media and expansion of current resources and training for journalists that considers the challenges of interacting with people who are bereaved

Researching and reporting on suicide or mental illness: a student perspective

The Response Ability project for journalism education aims to support the responsible and accurate reporting of mental health issues via tertimy curricula. The aim is to produce graduates in journalism and communications who are aware of, and able to respond to, issues relating to suicide and mental illness in their professional work. One of the many strategies to increase uptake of the Response Ability resources in Australian universities is the sponsorship of an award for mental health reporting as part ofthe Journalism Education Association of Australia 50 annual Ossie Awards. Between 2005 and 2007, 22 Ossie Award entrants from seven campuses were interviewed to assess their methods of research and key learning outcomes. It is clear from the interviews that journalism academics generally take an active interest in supporting journalism students to report on mental health and suicide. While students appear to have an awareness ofthe need to be sensitive when researching and writing publications that cover suicide and mental illness, the results of this study suggest they have less specific awareness of the guidelines which Response Ability promotes, especially those related to the reporting of mental illness

Crafting safe and effective suicide prevention media messages: outcomes from a workshop in Australia

Abstract Background Suicide and suicide-related behaviours are major public health concerns in Australia and worldwide. One universal intervention that has received an increased focus as a means of preventing suicide is the use of media campaigns. There is, however, a lack of understanding of the kinds of campaign messages that are safe and effective. The current paper aims to expand on this knowledge. The study objectives were to: (1) explore what suicide prevention experts consider to be essential characteristics of effective and safe suicide media campaigns; (2) develop suicide prevention media messages; and (3) explore the impact that these messages might have on different audiences. Methods We conducted a workshop in July 2015 which was attended by 21 experts (professionals with knowledge about suicide prevention and/or media campaigns, and people with a lived experience of suicide). The experts were split into three groups, and each group developed a suicide prevention message for one of the following target audiences: people at risk of suicide; family and peers of people at risk of suicide; and people bereaved by suicide. Results The three groups generally agreed that these messages had to include two key characteristics: (1) validate or reflect the target group’s issues and needs; and (2) promote help-seeking behaviours. They noted, however, that messages that might have a positive impact for one target audience might inadvertently have a negative impact for other target audiences. In particular, they were concerned that messages designed for family and peers about being supportive and looking for warning signs might leave those who had been bereaved by suicide feeling isolated, guilty or traumatised. Workshop participants highlighted that gaps exist in relation to the use of appropriate language, were unsure of how to create destigmatising messages without normalising or sensationalising suicide and commented on the lack of evaluative evidence for the efficacy of media campaigns. Conclusions Developing suicide prevention messages is complex and target and non-target audiences may interpret these messages differently to the way they were intended and the impact of such messaging may be detrimental. Caution needs to be applied when developing suicide prevention messages

Feasibility and acceptability of strategies to address mental health and mental ill-health in the Australian coal mining industry

Abstract Background To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of implementing a peer-based, multi-component mental health program in the Australian coal mining industry. Methods The multicomponent program included MATES in mining (a peer-based mental health and suicide prevention program) and supervisor training. Eight Australian coal mines participated in the research, with four mines receiving the mental health program. Primary outcome variables including mental health stigma, help-seeking behaviour and perception of the workplace commitment to mental health were measured prior to program implementation, and then again 10 months following using a paper based survey. Process evaluation of the mental health program was measured using a pre-test/post-test survey. Results MATES in mining 1275 miners participated in the MATES general awareness and connector training. Participants were more confident that they could identify a workmate experiencing mental ill-health; help a workmate, family member or themselves identify where to get support and were more willing to start a conversation with a workmate about their mental health. Supervisor training 117 supervisors completed the supervisor training and were subsequently more confident that they could: identify someone experiencing mental ill-health in the workplace; identify and recommend support services to a person experiencing mental ill-health; and have an effective conversation about performance issues that may be due to mental ill-health. Conclusions Our findings show evidence to support the use of peer-based mental health programs in the mining industry, and for male-dominated industry more broadly