INTERNATIONAL: PAHO Reports Changes to Media Coverage of Suicide

St. Lucia Times

In Latin America, journalists are increasingly playing a key role in suicide prevention. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has rolled out training to the region on how to safely and accurately report on suicide. More than 130 participants from 30 countries completed training in 2017. After attending a workshop on addressing suicide in the news, Argentinian journalist Leonardo Rolón said, “as journalists, we began to think of ourselves as key actors in certain public health issues.” Health ministries in the region are also collaborating with PAHO to promote responsible reporting in their countries. With PAHO’s support, Trinidad and Tobago has developed guidelines for covering suicide and self-harm, which it uses to evaluate and improve reporting practices. Uruguay is also working closely with the country’s news media to ensure journalists have the knowledge and tools to report on suicide.

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