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Covering Suicide in the Military and Among Veterans


Nearly all veteran and service member suicides are preventable. We are concerned that the public needs to understand that most veteran and service member suicides are preventable and that for most veterans, quality of life can be restored, even when they are in their darkest moments and feel hope is lost. Suicide is not inevitable. Many good mental health treatment programs are available and treatment does work for many. Help may be found through VA Vet Centers or the VA, by contacting a private healthcare provider, or by calling the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential and free help at 1-800-273-8255, press 1, or texting 838255. Suicide prevention should be everyones business. We in the community have to band together to support our veterans and their families as they re-integrate to civilian life. Veterans who find a sense of purpose in life and a community of support are at lower risk for suicide. Helping people understand what help looks like, can help prevent suicide. Stigma and a lack of awareness of what mental health help can look like, can delay service members, veterans and their families from seeking care or help. Stories that illustrate what mental health help looks like and that talks about available treatments and programs, could dispel these stigmas and get those in emotional pain into care earlier. It is important to not stereotype our veterans and service members when reporting about suicide. Even if they have a challenging transition from the military to civilian life, most veterans do not have post-traumatic stress or consider suicide. Military service often imparts to people valuable skills like self-reliance, leadership, and problem-solving. Reporting about suicide can be challenging and it is important journalists educate themselves about the public health issues involved. Several validated research studies have found that (1) reporting that talks about suicide as an epidemic that many are engaging in, (2) reporting that presents suicide as unpreventable, inevitable, inexplicable, or heroic, or (3) reporting that provides details about the manner of suicide or draws excessive attention to those attempting or completing suicide may encourage others who are vulnerable to also die by suicide. Talking with families of those who have recently died by suicide. In the immediate days and months after their loss, research has shown that family members of those who have died by suicide, are often least able to offer helpful causal information about what led to their loved one's death. Yet this is one of the things media almost always ask these grieving families who are often in great shock. Identifying what contributes to a death by suicide is often complicated and takes time. Research shows presenting suicide in the media as an inexplicable act, can actually encourage an increase in suicides. Consequently, an emphasis on immediacy in reporting, can be detrimental to good reporting on suicide and cause harm. Families who are typically best able and best equipped psychologically to not be re-traumatized by a media interview, are those who are at least a year beyond their own loss. Resources to assist reporters. Suggestions from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for reporting about suicide based on research can be found at: www.reportingonsuicide.org. You may also find helpful the resources from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma useful or the resources from the Poynter Institute.

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