[Suicide reporting in German print and online media for adolescents in Austria and possible effects on suicide prevalence].
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed the quality of suicide reporting in youth magazines and assessed potential copycat effects following media reports on suicide.


METHODS
We obtained suicide-related articles from five Austrian and German youth magazines published between 1996 and 2008. Reported sex, suicide (attempt) methods, suicide motives, the portrayal of suicide in a positive or negative light, accusations of blame and consistency with media recommendations for the reporting of suicide were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The suicide frequency among adolescents in Austria was compared 2 weeks before and after the publication of reports on suicide and suicide attempts.


RESULTS
59 articles were identified, most of which had been published in the magazine Bravo. There was an overrepresentation of suicide among girls and an underrepresentation of attempted suicide. The frequency of specific suicide and suicide attempt methods was consistent with epidemiological distributions of suicide methods. Fall from height was most frequently described for girls and hanging for boys. Regarding motives for suicide, factors like psychiatric diseases were underrepresented. Girls who died by suicide were often positively described in articles, but boys were more often negatively described. Parents were frequently blamed as being guilty of their child's suicidal behaviour, in particular when reporting on suicide attempts. Photos, suicide notes and details concerning method were frequently described. There was no indication of a Werther effect following reporting.


CONCLUSIONS
The identified discrepancies between epidemiologic data regarding suicidal behaviour in adolescents and media reporting in youth media constitutes an important basis for suicide prevention in the community.
Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Klinische Abteilung für Pädiatrische Pulmologie, Allergologie und Endokrinologie, Kompetenzzentrum für Psychosomatik, Medizinische Universität Wien. brigitte.eisenwort@meduniwien.ac.at
Brigitte
B
Eisenwort
André
A
Hermann
Benedikt
B
Till
Thomas
T
Niederkrotenthaler
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001317:Austria; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D012737:Sex Factors; D012932:Social Facilitation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention