National Recommendations for Depicting Suicide

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) has released the first-ever National Recommendations for Depicting Suicide in entertainment content, in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC). Representatives from the entertainment industry and suicide prevention field provided input on the recommendations, which advance Goal 4 of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Studies have found that the way the media covers suicide can influence behavior negatively by contributing to increased suicidal behavior among viewers, or positively by encouraging help-seeking and recovery. These new recommendations aim to help members of the entertainment industry—content creators, scriptwriters, and producers—tell more balanced and authentic stories involving suicide that promote hope and healing.