WHO African Region Trains Journalists on Suicide Awareness, Safer Media Reporting.

Sep 10, 2024 - 09:21
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WHO African Region Trains Journalists on Suicide Awareness, Safer Media Reporting.

News desk report

(gyamemma5@gmail.com) 

September 9, 2024 

The World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region has today trained Journalists on suicide awareness and safer media reporting, aimed at addressing suicide in the continent.

Suicide is a tragic cause of preventable deaths, and the WHO African Region has the highest suicide rate in the world. 

Media professionals are instrumental in shaping cultural narratives that can improve the health of populations across the world. 

The media can thus play a significant role in either enhancing suicide prevention efforts or weakening them. 

Research confirms that reckless media coverage of suicide has detrimental impacts on public perception and behaviour, as insensitive, sensational, or explicit reporting increases the risk of imitative behaviours and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. 

The WHO's 'live life' strategy for suicide prevention underscores the fundamental importance of promoting responsible media coverage as one of its four pillars.

 Held on Monday September 9, 2024 via zoom digital conferencing, the training workshop focused on responsible reporting and evidence - based interventions for suicide prevention.

Safer reporting can reduce imitative suicidal behaviour, fight stigma, provide useful mental health information, and encourage life -saving health - seeking behaviour. 

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