Introduce content warnings for suicide storylines.

Introduce content warnings for suicide storylines.

Started
14 February 2020
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Signatures: 74Next Goal: 100
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Why this petition matters

Started by Lisa Bourne

Suicide storylines are everywhere at the moment. This is important in raising awareness of suicide and the high prevalence rate in England, in improving understanding around mental health and mental illness and reducing stigma and discrimination.

But for those who are bereaved by suicide, coming across a storyline featuring death by suicide, suicide preparation or suicidal thoughts is extremely uncomfortable. Not least because those bereaved by suicide are at a higher risk of suicide themselves.

I watch and read a lot of true crime and crime fiction, so wishy washy warnings like "programme may contain upsetting scenes" never concern me.

However, finding the storyline turning to suicide is enough to trigger nightmares and grief. That is no exaggeration. It is something I live with and I'm sure I am not alone in that. It happened again last night after reading a particular chapter in Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

What I would love to see is detailed trigger warnings, for example, "this programme contains a storyline based on suicide". If those who work in media, journalism, creative arts, could research and understand the effects of portraying suicide storylines on vulnerable audeince members that would be an excellent step but if time and funds don't allow, then the Mental Health Media Charter offers some great guidelines and is a really positive place to start.

Please consider the introduction of detailed trigger warnings on book covers and on TV shows and films so that audiences can make informed decisions and protect their mental health in a positive way.

Thank you for your support.

Lisa - mental health activist and volunteer, Leeds.

 

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Signatures: 74Next Goal: 100
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