Due to a number of current events, suicide has been a topic of discussion at the forefront of awareness raising efforts, both locally and globally.
In Sri Lanka, we recently experienced an incident where a public figure’s death was temporarily ruled as suicide. Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput (34) was found dead, hanging from the ceiling fan in his home in Bandra, Mumbai. He was reported to have been suffering from depression for some time, according to Mumbai Police.
Globally, concerns have been raised and a conversation has been reignited due to the deaths caused by suicide of prominent figures in the entertainment industry, particularly in East Asia. Some of the incidents were of K-pop singers Goo Hara (28) and her close friend Sulli (25), Kim Jong-hyun (27) in 2017, and multiple others in years past.
More recently in pop culture content, we saw the wildly popular and heavily polarising Netflix original TV series 13 Reasons Why, which had its finale season come to an end in June. The show came under fire from experts due to its graphic and jarring representation of teen suicide. Despite advice from professionals, the show went on to showcase an act of suicide with great detail. Additionally, its later seasons went on to glamourise the effectiveness of a “revenge fantasy”, giving way to the possibility of a copycat effect as a result.
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Nivendra Uduman[/caption]
Counselling psychologist Nivendra Uduman spoke of this type of representation where suicide can be thought of as a solution to a problem or a viable next step, whereas in reality there are many other ways to deal with issues, and so we must always portray it in such a way, showing that suicide is a negative and unhelpful way of dealing with problems. However, it should be communicated that it is not wrong to feel suicidal, but it is an understandable response when you are unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Uduman also referred to the liberties taken when it comes to the deaths of public figures and shared that even in such instances, we mustn’t share the images of the person who has taken their life; we must be sensitive to the psychological impact it would have on the loved ones they have left behind.
Prof. Siri Hettige[/caption]
People are prone to imitation when they are not of rational mind and this irrationality is bred of unstable, out-of-their-norm situations, such as the current situation of a pandemic which is a time where people are under enormous pressure and the economic situation and social circumstances have changed, thereby generating anxiety and hopelessness. “The uncertainty is an ideal environment where the emotional fallout is so great enough that it can lead people to extremes. So sensitivity and great care is imperative,” he said.
Nivendra Uduman[/caption]
Counselling psychologist Nivendra Uduman spoke of this type of representation where suicide can be thought of as a solution to a problem or a viable next step, whereas in reality there are many other ways to deal with issues, and so we must always portray it in such a way, showing that suicide is a negative and unhelpful way of dealing with problems. However, it should be communicated that it is not wrong to feel suicidal, but it is an understandable response when you are unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Uduman also referred to the liberties taken when it comes to the deaths of public figures and shared that even in such instances, we mustn’t share the images of the person who has taken their life; we must be sensitive to the psychological impact it would have on the loved ones they have left behind.
The role of media
Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka (PCCSL) Chief Executive Officer Sukumar Rockwood, who is celebrating 40 years in the profession this coming July, shared his thoughts on how the media has handled the discussion of suicide and whether they are following through in the right way to have the discussion. “I believe that new media has been quite responsible in reporting sensitive topics such as suicide. If you take this example of Rajeewa Jayaweera, which has been ruled a probable suicide, as he is a public figure, you see the level of details shared which is the Magistrate’s account of the matter. It is an unfortunate and tragic incident and it should be reported as such. “It is a clause in the code of ethics that you must report in a sensitive manner and if not a public figure, then you must conceal the victim’s identity and report with minimum detail as possible. I believe for the large part, the media has played a responsible role but of course there is a lot of media that is unregulated and such outlets would perceive themselves to be in competition with traditional media outlets that are bound by ethics, and therefore take liberties in sharing graphic details of incidents like suicide,” Rockwood said. He also noted that in Sri Lanka, most issues labelled “sensitive” are topics that do not get discussed publicly, pointing out that we are a closed society and sharing is not something we do. Therefore, whenever you are reporting on such issues, it is also best to include an awareness element where you do your best to educate the reader and direct them to further resources such as the suicide prevention hotline and other institutions that can be of help, etc., he added. We also spoke to former Deputy Editor of Navamani newspaper for over 15 years and veteran journalist Thaha Muzammil who shared that from what ethics dictate, suicide and other sensitive matters should be spoken about using a particular language. It should never be described in full with unnecessary detail, and if one is to share a certain level of detail, it should be done in the most respectful and discrete manner possible. He said that overtly detailed reports can be construed as sensationalising a sensitive and often time triggering issue. One must never over explain and while it is certainly the responsibility of the media to not just allude to the fact of suicide but to provide a report, it should be done responsibly.Language is key
Uduman also addressed the use of language being a matter of great importance when talking about suicide. He said that the way to talk about suicide has a lot to do with how you use language. We do not encourage people to use “committed suicide” as it gives out the impression that they have done something wrong or committed a sin, and it contributes to the stigma making it difficult to access help, making people with such thoughts feel guilty. He said that they encourage people to be sensitive when they post about suicide and use appropriate language, such as the use of “died by suicide”, “ended his/her life”, “took their life”, etc. instead. Also adding that in the case of attempted suicides, he said it is advised not to say a “failed/successful attempt”, but just “attempted”. He also added that we must be mindful not to share images of methods used to take one’s life or contribute to news articles that speak extensively about methods used and other details so as not to contribute to other people who may be vulnerable being exposed to insensitive media and reporting. This could lead to copycat suicides, and we have seen this in Sri Lanka where one graphic report is shared and then it is copied, or in India when a celebrity is reported to have taken his/her life. He also stressed on the importance of not speculating about the reason/s a person may have had to take their life. The truth is that we don't know. Depression is not the only reason for people to end their lives; there are other serious mental health problems as well. There are difficult life events that can also increase the risk of suicide. “Let’s not contribute to increasing the stigma around suicide and mental illness and let’s not trivialise something that’s very serious and a major public health concern,” Uduman stressed. It is also important not to call people cowards for having taken their lives, while it is important not to glorify and glamourise the act either. While people are certainly entitled to their own opinion, we must be sensitive in ours.When is a conversation necessary?
University of Colombo Emeritus Professor of Sociology Prof. Siri Hettige also shared how while there is a need to take up this conversation, we must think whether it is necessary. We must think about why we want to discuss this. Can we contribute to anything? [caption id="attachment_86009" align="alignright" width="200"] Prof. Siri Hettige[/caption]
People are prone to imitation when they are not of rational mind and this irrationality is bred of unstable, out-of-their-norm situations, such as the current situation of a pandemic which is a time where people are under enormous pressure and the economic situation and social circumstances have changed, thereby generating anxiety and hopelessness. “The uncertainty is an ideal environment where the emotional fallout is so great enough that it can lead people to extremes. So sensitivity and great care is imperative,” he said.