The Department of Health (DOH) issued guidelines on reporting and portrayal of suicide in media on March 1 as part of its suicide prevention efforts.
Administrative Order (AO) No. 2022-0004, containing the guidelines aims to “provide guidance to reporters, journalists, writers, editors, directors, producers, and other media, audiovisual, and film practitioners on the responsible reporting and/or portrayal of suicide in their respective crafts and in developing material that increases help-seeking behavior in the general population.”
In a press release on March 10, DOH said, “Suicide remains one of the most pressing issues in the world,” they added, “In the Philippines, the suicide rate in 2019 was 2.5 [persons] per 100,000 population.”
“Media, as a powerful means to transmit information and influence its audience, is seen as an effective tool by the WHO (World Health Organization) to responsibly report suicide, current evidence shows there is an association between suicide content in the media and the risk of death by suicide,” stated on the press release.
To ensure that media people follow the guidelines, the AO stated, “A monitoring and evaluation plan shall be developed and regularly implemented by the DOH and other relevant government agencies.”
In the press release, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said, “It is important that those at risk are not exposed to articles or movies that encourage or give instructions on suicide.”
The press release also stated that these actions are part of their efforts with the WHO and the Australian government to “address risk factors for suicide while promoting protective factors.”
Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rajendra Yadav said that the WHO is aware of the media’s role in “preventing suicidal behaviors.”
“We encourage media practitioners and content producers to focus on suicide prevention strategies and promote general mental health interventions instead of suicide events alone,” Yadav said.
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