Assessing the quality of suicide reporting in Gilgit-Baltistan against the international media guidelines
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22191095 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Akber Ali (0009-0006-5264-4416, Karakoram International University, corresponding author), Sehrish Kanwal (Karakoram International University), Sidra Kanwal (Karakoram International University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 1-13 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-17 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Media Practice and Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2574-1136 • E-ISSN: 2574-1144 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/25741136.2025.2598964 |
| OpenAlex | W4417429108 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 24 |
Suicide is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Responsible media reporting is a key suicide preventive strategy at the public level. Suicide rates are higher in the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan. Despite increasing suicide rates, there is limited research on the quality of media reporting in Gilgit-Baltistan. This study aimed to evaluate how well the news media in Gilgit-Baltistan adhered to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for reporting on suicide. A total of 200 suicide reports were collected from both print and online media between 1 January 2021, and 31 December 2023, and were analyzed for reporting quality against the international guidelines. The findings reveal significant violations: 86% of reports prominently featured stories, 95% included the word suicide in headlines, 95% mentioned the method used, and none provided educational content or support contact information. No report linked suicide with mental health. No significant differences were found between print and online reports, except in the headlines and prominence, which showed more guidelines violation in the online media outlets. The study concludes that the media reporting on suicides in GB is highly irresponsible. It recommends training journalists and developing collaborative strategies between media professionals and health experts as a preventive strategy against suicide
Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Suicide prevention · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
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Perceptions of stakeholders about the role of health system in suicide prevention in Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
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| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |