While the number of deaths from suicides has reduced considerably in Sri Lanka, the number of attempted suicides (not ending up in death) has risen considerably, officials and volunteers at Sri Lanka Sumithrayo told reporters this week.
According to figures from the Sri Lankan branch of the organisation known all over the world for ‘befriending’ and suicide prevention, the suicide rate has reduced from a high rate of 47 per 100,000 population in 1995 to 21 per 100,000 in 2007.
But the crisis is not over. The number of attempted suicides has increased by 10-fold during this period.
Urging the media to report on suicide deaths and attempted suicides with responsibility, officials at Sumithrayo said there is a lot more work to be done to bring down the rate of attempts.
“We need the media (in this journey). You are very powerful but we would also plead to the media to report on these issues with some sensitivity,” said Nalini Ellawala, Director of Sumithrayo’s Mel Medura (Drug Demand Reduction Programme).Among many issues the organisation has with the media – and repeated over and over again in the past decade – is sensationalising suicide deaths or attempts, saying this leads to what is called the copy-cat syndrome. “Others (who are desperate) read these stories in the newspapers and other media and learn about ways to attempt suicide,” noted Jomo Uduman, Chairperson of Sumithrayo’s Colombo branch.
The Editors’ Guild Code of Ethics for journalists also states that when reporting suicide, care should be taken not to give excessive detail of the method used.
The news conference was called to once again appeal to the media for responsible reporting on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day which fell on September 10.
Sumithrayo says death by suicide is more common in the rural areas where agricultural chemicals are readily available, despite great attempts made with respect to use of less toxic chemicals and safe storage. The main reason why the number of deaths from suicides has reduced is because victims are subject to medical treatment (taken to hospital), much faster than before (1995).
Officials said in recent times there were many children, in urban areas, who have sought their help ‘to listen to’ because of pressure on education, exams and related matters. |
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