TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative analysis of self-harm and suicide in Sri Lankan printed newspapers
AU - Brandt Sørensen, Jane
AU - Pearson, Melissa
AU - Armstrong, Gregory
AU - Andersen, Martin Wolf
AU - Weerasinghe, Manjula
AU - Hawton, Keith
AU - Konradsen, Flemming
N1 - Funding Information:
The University of Copenhagen, Denmark, the Wellcome Trust Safe Storage grant (GR090958) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (DIG-0-0095-12) funded this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Hogrefe Publishing GmbH. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/1
Y1 - 2021/1
N2 - Background: Media reporting may influence suicidal behavior. In-depth exploration of how self-harm and suicide are portrayed in newspaper articles in a middle-income country such as Sri Lanka is lacking. Aims: We aimed to explore how self-harm and suicide are portrayed in Sri Lankan printed newspapers. Method: Seven English- and Sinhala-language Sri Lankan newspapers were screened for articles reporting on self-harm and suicide (December 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015). A thematic analysis was conducted. Results: In the 78 articles identified for analysis, certain aspects were overemphasized (inappropriate behavior) and others underemphasized (alcohol and complexities of self-harm). Explanations of self-harm were one-sided and a suicide prevention narrative was lacking. Limitations: Another time-frame and inclusion of Tamil newspapers as well as social media and online publications would provide additional understanding. Conclusion: The study found an indication of simplistic reporting. Greater focus on prevention and a nuanced portrayal of self-harm could reduce stigma and imitative behavior.
AB - Background: Media reporting may influence suicidal behavior. In-depth exploration of how self-harm and suicide are portrayed in newspaper articles in a middle-income country such as Sri Lanka is lacking. Aims: We aimed to explore how self-harm and suicide are portrayed in Sri Lankan printed newspapers. Method: Seven English- and Sinhala-language Sri Lankan newspapers were screened for articles reporting on self-harm and suicide (December 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015). A thematic analysis was conducted. Results: In the 78 articles identified for analysis, certain aspects were overemphasized (inappropriate behavior) and others underemphasized (alcohol and complexities of self-harm). Explanations of self-harm were one-sided and a suicide prevention narrative was lacking. Limitations: Another time-frame and inclusion of Tamil newspapers as well as social media and online publications would provide additional understanding. Conclusion: The study found an indication of simplistic reporting. Greater focus on prevention and a nuanced portrayal of self-harm could reduce stigma and imitative behavior.
KW - Media
KW - Self-harm
KW - Sri Lanka
KW - Suicide
KW - Thematic analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85085341905&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1027/0227-5910/a000687
DO - 10.1027/0227-5910/a000687
M3 - Article
C2 - 32366170
AN - SCOPUS:85085341905
SN - 0227-5910
VL - 42
SP - 56
EP - 63
JO - Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention
JF - Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention
IS - 1
ER -