think about the impact of your post on people:before you post anything related to suicide, take some time to think about -

• a. Why do you want to share this post? Do you want to raise awareness about suicide? Are you looking for support? Do you want to honour the memory of someone you lost to suicide?
• b. How will this post affect other people (e.g., those at risk of suicide, families or friends bereaved by suicide, or a person who attempted suicide)? Will it cause distress in them or help them feel supported?
• c. Is there a different way to communicate the information you want to share, so that it is safer or more helpful to someone who reads or watches it?
• d. Who will have access to this post? If your account is not ‘private’, anyone can access the content you post. You might receive a mix of positive and negative responses to your post.
• e. How will sharing this post make you feel?

Promote help-seeking by providing accurate information about support services:

It is important to provide information or add a link to a support service such as a suicide prevention helpline, so that viewers of your post know where to seek help if they feel distressed.

Include a trigger warning:

You should consider providing a content/trigger warning (For example: “TW: This post contains content about suicide”) in your post to alert other users that the post may contain distressing content. It will help the other users to make a decision about whether or not they want to read your post.

Only post information that is accurate and verifiable

Avoid sharing information that you are unsure of. Avoid reducing suicide to a single cause (e.g., loss of job, failed exam, breakup, etc.). Suicide is a result of a complex set of factors, so you should refrain from speculating the cause of the suicide. You should also be careful and ensure accuracy before sharing any links to an external source of information. Share only trusted sources which provide verified and evidence-based information from health research organizations.

Provide information that reduces stigma and busts common myths and misconceptions:

It is important to highlight that suicides are preventable and there is help available. You could also share correct facts about common myths (for e.g., fact- talking about suicide does not lead to or encourage suicide)

Don’t provide detailed information about the location or methods of suicide:

Images or content that depict a method or location of suicide must be avoided. It can be upsetting to those who are grieving and may lead to copycat suicides* by other people who are at-risk. This is especially true when talking about the death by suicide of a known public figure and extreme caution should be taken while talking about such instances.

Share hopeful stories and narratives about overcoming suicidal thoughts or feelings:

It is helpful to emphasize parts of your or someone else’s experience that demonstrate the importance of seeking early help and support. You could talk about people or activities that helped you/someone else cope with suicidal thoughts and feelings.

Ensure that the privacy of the person you are referring to is maintained:

Ensure that the privacy of the person you are referring to is maintained:

Monitor comments on your post:

It can be helpful to monitor the activity on your posts and check for any harmful or unsafe content such as images of suicide or means/methods of suicide, suicide notes, etc. If you do come across an unsafe or triggering response, you could:

• a. Hide the user’s post, if possible.
• b. Report it to the relevant social media help centre.

Use sensitive language:

Don’t use language which sensationalises, normalises or over-simplifies suicide.

*Copycat suicide refers to imitation of an act of suicide by another person.

References:

1. Chatsafe: A young person’s guide for communicating safely online about suicide (Orygen)

2. Media Guidelines for Reporting Suicide (SPIRIT)