Reporting of suicide deaths

[Spooll]

Tragically a friend of mind recently jumped from a local landmark.

Ideally it wouldn't have been reported at all, but all the local news sites and now one national one have it, and are reporting that she "fell on a day out with her husband".

Until her husband and age were included in the story, the comments all assumed it was a "kid" being reckless, or a drunk because it's impossible to fall from this place due to fences.

Now the fact that her DH was there has been included, people are assuming she was pushed!

I understand why full details aren't published, but if they're going to publish at all, shouldn't they use accurate language?

There’s a code of conduct around reporting death by suicide, that’s very much focussed on not providing inspiration.

Yes, I do understand that but if they can't print the actual story why do they print at all?

Yes. And also out of respect for the family who may not want it made public.

As ScaryMonster says - but also the information will be coming from official sources such as the police and they may be the ones holding back information

Yes, but by printing half the story they leave the family open to speculation - like the rumour that her DH pushed her.

How very sad. Sending love to everyone who loved her.

Before an inquest has concluded suicide they will just say fell because that's all that's confirmed right now.

For e.g Jason Arday was 'found dead with no suspicious circumstances'. It won't say how until the inquest.

If It’s the article I saw it says her husband was waiting at the bottom. Sorry for the loss of your friend though. I do think some things don’t need reporting

Is there not something about no suspicious circumstances? There would usually be.

If there isn’t, then do make a complaint as if it’s feeding incorrect speculation that should be addressed.

I am so sorry about your friend. I can't images how terrible it must be for the people who loved her.
News reports no longer explicitly say someone has taken their own life when deaths are first reported. Because until the inquest no one knows what actually happened and I think out of respect for the person who has died.
Sometimes they add that the police report there are no suspicious circumstances, to make it clear no one else is involved. I think saying she fell and not pushed and that her husband hasn't been arrested should be clear to people that he wasn't involved but some people just like to speculate and exploit other people's tragedies.

Isn't it a bit disingenious to say it's out of respect for the family? Surely that would be saying nothing at all?

The trouble these days is that if it was done in a public space with witnesses, before too long there will be all sorts of rumours and gossip on SM. If the police/the venue say nothing at all, people will start accusing them of a cover up, and create even worse stories. So by issuing a bland statement they are at least acknowledging something happened but not feeding gory rumours.

We had a similar tragic incident at my workplace very recently and I could see the local FB groups going into overdrive before anything official had been said.

From experience, the papers would not know it was suicide unless stated by the police / coroner or the family themselves. The paper will say woman fell from landmark. People will be people and make up their own shit.

Usually there's a comment about no suspicious circumstances which would prevent the husband from being accused. Did the article include that OP?

If they haven’t had the inquest yet (the full one, not the opening) they can’t say she took her own life or that she jumped. That can only be said after the inquest has been concluded.

For example, last year there was an incident which was initially reported as a man ‘falling’ from a hot air balloon. The inquest later concluded he took his own life.

Sometimes it takes a year or two for the full inquest to take place

There are always suspicious circumstances with someone falling from a height. Suspicious that they jumped, were pushed or suffered some kind of accident. It's an unexpected public violent death.

It's not like someone being found dead at home with no evidence of trauma, a break-in or other external influence.

The inquest will say whether or not there is enough evidence to say it was suicide but till then, no-one can say there are no suspicious circumstances.

‘Suspicious circumstances’ in reporting means it’s suspected a crime was committed (such as murder). A suspected suicide would not be suspicious circumstances.

sometimes the reporting may say it is ‘unexplained’ which means they’re not sure yet if there was a crime.

Yes..

My post was in response to a poster saying the Police should say 'no suspicious circumstances' which they can't and won't until there's an inquest.

Not because there are possibly suspicious circumstances but because they can't state categorically that there are not until an inquest when it is a fall from height.

If someone is found dead ar home with no obvious trauma and no evidence of a break in or external influence they can state there are no suspicious circumstances in that particular incident.

Unexplained would be a verdict given at an inquest, not a speculation for the Police or media to give.

I'm not sure that you stating that, especially now that that level of information makes it possible to find the details online, is appropriate, either.