Features that may help to prevent imitation:
No sensationalism,
No front page reporting / prominent placement,
No photos,
No repetition of reporting/repeated coverage,
No detailed descriptions of suicide methods,
No names / characteristics of the suicidal persons,
No citing/printing of farewell letters / suicide notes,
Not mentioning online suicide forums / websites,
Not mentioning suicide pacts,
Not mentioning the location,
Not mentioning other suicides at the same place (hotspots),
Not mentioning suicide clusters,
Not speaking of 'series / epidemic of suicides' (contagion),
Considering the language, e.g. not using the terms 'committed suicide',
'a successful / unsuccessful suicide',
Clarifying myths about suicide,
No simplistic explanation,
Not reporting suicide as understandable solution,
Not glorifying suicide (heroism, romanticism),
Not paying special attention to celebrity suicides,
Not mentioning positive consequences of suicide,
Reporting suicide within the context of mental illness,
Listing warning signs for suicide,
Not interviewing relatives/people bereaved by suicide,
Referring to possibilities to prevent suicide,
Describing individual coping strategies to master a crisis,
Referring to help in general,
Information on help agencies,
Information on hotlines,
Information on self-help groups,
Guidelines for media reporting of suicide should include a section on fictional reporting of suicidal behaviour,
Guidelines for media reporting of suicide should include a section on reporting suicidal behaviour in the new media.
