Press Ombudsman Professor John Horgan

STIGMA still surrounds the reporting of suicide in the media and the reporting of these deaths still "lags far behind the reporting of other violent deaths", Press Ombudsman Professor John Horgan told the Coroners Society of Ireland annual conference yesterday.

Addressing delegates in Naas, Co Kildare, Professor Horgan added there have been improvements in how the media cover suicide: "Information about helplines and other positive initiatives in news stories and features about deaths by suicide are a notable feature of the new and very pro-active approach. At a time when the press generally are often accused of needless sensationalism, these are welcome developments that should be flagged and saluted."