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Dr. Kayla Cooley, director of Limerick-based suicide intervention service CCRT has spoken out about the dangerous and irresponsible reporting of murder-suicide by Irish media.
“The recent tragedy in Dublin has once again exposed the absence of Irish media reporting standards for murder-suicide” said Dr. Cooley. “This absence carries profound consequences for bereaved families, communities and the wider public” she said. “It is well known that excessive and sensational detail being published causes further distress for grieving families, perpetuates trauma, and potentially contributes to further risk” said Dr. Cooley.
Internationally accepted standards on reporting on suicide issued by the Samaritans and the World Health Organisation have been developed using large bodies of evidence. These standards clearly outline how irresponsible reporting can have a direct impact on the public.
Reporting on these events can lead to one of two outcomes. First, the public is informed of the facts and given educational resources and clear signposting to support. Second, it can make an already desperately distressing situation worse for everyone and potentially increase the possibility of further incidents.
Dr. Cooley said “Ireland’s past failures in these areas are well documented. Public outcry over the dehumanising and distressing coverage that resulted in the #HerNameWasClodagh hashtag on social media is a stark reminder of how the media can prioritise “story” and ‘clicks’ over humanity.
“We are calling on the Irish government to issue clear, formal standards for reporting on murder-suicide. These standards should be informed by international evidence, and should be developed in collaboration with relevant experts, media regulators and affected communities. Standards should outline clear expectations and accountability structures, and most importantly, there should be consistently imposed consequences should violations occur,” said Dr. Cooley.
“The constant and competitive rush to publish the most harrowing details from these tragedies serves no one. The evidence is clear, and the risks are known. Trusting the media to adhere to voluntary standards is ineffective. Formal standards must now be developed and implemented,” she said.
CCRT are a crisis intervention service that has been operating since 2016.
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