Repeating the same mistakes

JEERS TO SEVERAL news organizations for committing the same old errors in much of media coverage of suicide.

The Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility (CMFR) monitored Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star/Pilipino Star Ngayon, ABS-CBN 2, GMA-7, Solar TV,  TV5, and online news organizations from March 13 to 21.

Within the period, CMFR monitored four cases of suicide that made it to the news. One particular case was about the attempted suicide of the daughter of a comedian working for GMA-7 television.

Some of the news organizations reported in detail how the suicide attempts were committed and published graphic images.

On March 13, the daughter of comedian Jose Manalo reportedly attempted to commit suicide. Manalo is a mainstay at GMA-7’s noontime show Eat Bulaga.

The Philippine Star quoted a lawyer as saying: “Kagabi po bandang alas diyes ay nagtangkang magpakamatay itong pangalawa sa bunsong anak ni Jose Manalo ng Eat Bulaga sa pamamagitan ng pag-inom ng sari-saring gamot na nandun at’ nung abutan po ng kanyang ina ay nakahandusay na po ‘yung bata at wala na pong malay at sinugod po sa pagamutan.” (Manalo’s daughter was found unconscious and was rushed to the hospital after taking various drugs.)

Rappler said a suicide note “pointed to family problems as the reason for the attempted suicide.”

Another report from the Inquirer on March 19 said that a scavenger “hanged himself with a nylon cord from a tree on the median strip of a normally busy thoroughfare in Quezon City.”

Pilipino Star Ngayon, sister publication of the Star, even published a clear photo of the suicide, albeit in black and white.

“Details of the method or the location a suicide victim uses may lead to copycat suicides. A reporter should not risk providing another person considering suicide with the details of how it can be achieved,” says the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Inquirer published another report on suicide which said the victim’s live-in partner “was greeted by the sight of his body hanging by the neck from a beam near the stairs inside their house.”

On March 21, reports on the suicide of a Filipino-American model said that the woman “fell to her death from her unit on the 28^th floor of a condominium building.”

Another article posted on the Inquirer’s website only mentioned the victim’s Twitter post few days before she committed suicide: “slash my wrists and hope to die.”

A reporter on ABS-CBN 2’s Umagang Kay Ganda said, “Isang duguang babae ang natagpuan sa ibabaw ng exhaust ng aircon sa 7^th floor ng isang condominium dito sa Pasig City.” The reporter added: “Sa litrato na nakuha rin natin kanina, makikita na duguan nga itong babaeng ito at nakapantulog pero dahil sa impact siguro ng pagkakalaglag nito at pagkakahulog niya at ‘nung bumagsak na siya dito sa exhaust ng aircon ay parang natanggal na or medyo matatanggal na ‘yung kanyang damit.” (The woman was all bloodied and because of the impact of her fall her nightgown is nearly off.)

Two days after the incident, the Star wrote an article on its “Lifestyle” page which said the victim was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during her school days and that “her condition was responsible with this tragic occurrence.”

In another article, the Star explained that people with bipolar disorder “experience periods in which they are overly happy and energetic and other periods of sadness, hopelessness and sluggishness.” The “severe mood swings” affect their daily lives and relationships.

The Star said six out of 10 people with bipolar disorder have tried to end their life at least once, eight out of 10 have suicidal thoughts, and three out of 10 have completed suicides.

Reports on the suicide incidents, except for the report in Umagang Kay Ganda and the suicide of Manalo’s daughter, identified the victim. The reports also attributed the suicide to a single factor.

To its credit, the Inquirer in its report on March 13 cited a WHO primer which said “suicide is never the result of a single factor or event” and that it “should not be glorified as an act.”

Only TV Patrol on its March 21 broadcast mentioned at the end of a report a 24-hour suicide help line where distressed individuals can seek help.

The TV news programs did not air the story on the suicide of Manalo’s daughter.

CMFR has said it before: “The media have a significant role in raising awareness and educating the public about the complexity of suicide, and can encourage the vulnerable and those at risk of suicide to seek help instead of encouraging them to imitate the methods of, and to even use the same sites as, completed suicides.”