Suicide Reporting and media with special reference to News Papers

Abstract

Suicide is defined as the action of killing one self intentionally. In modem Sri lanka society, it is stated that the rate committing suicide within the last 30 years has risen by 32.5 %. Prevalence of factors both internal and external are identified as the causes for committing suicide. Once the factors are controlled and avoided , the rate of suicide also decrease. The responsibility of doing so lies on the hands of the whole society including the media, which contribute in making a considerable influence on the minds of people. The objective of the research is to find out weather the media reporting may influence in increasing the suicide rate in Sri Lanka. To this end primary and secondary data was collected to formulate a study composed with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Previously published news articles were mainly used as a method of secondary data collection. In conclusion although the responsibility of making suicide rate decrease lies upon the whole society, the media reporting significantly contribute in increasing the rate of suicide in the Sri Lanka .