ABSTRACT
ObjectivesSince the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been much concern and speculation about rises in suicide rates, despite evidence that suicides did not in fact increase in the first year of the pandemic in most countries with real-time suicide data. This public narrative is potentially harmful, as well as misleading, and is likely to be perpetuated by sensational news coverage. MethodWe conducted a systematic analysis of UK news coverage (including opinion pieces) on the impact of COVID-19 on suicidality, to examine the content and quality of such reporting as the pandemic developed, and as different coronavirus restrictions were imposed. ResultsWe identified 372 stories about COVID-19 and suicidality in online and print news between the first UK lockdown (March 2020) and May 2021 (when restrictions were significantly eased in the UK). Throughout this period, over a third of articles (39.2%) and headlines (41.4%) claimed or predicted a rise in suicide, often attributed to feelings of entrapment and poor mental health (especially amongst young people), and fueled by expert commentary and speculation. Almost a third of reports were rated as being of poor overall quality (116, 31.2%), and at least half included no signposting to help and support. However, reporting improved in phases of less stringent COVID-19 restrictions and over time, with later articles and headlines including fewer negative statements and predictions about rises in suicides, and greater reliance on academic evidence. ConclusionsAs the longer-term consequences of the pandemic develop, and other national and global events unfold, it is increasingly important that the media, and the wider community of experts shaping its narratives, strive for a positive and evidence-informed approach to news coverage of suicide. Strengths and Limitations of this StudyO_LIThis is the first systematic analysis of UK news coverage on the impact of COVID-19 on suicidality. C_LIO_LIFindings are based on a well-established, evidence-informed news monitoring database. C_LIO_LIHowever, this analysis cannot account for the impact of news coverage on different audiences, nor for its reach C_LIO_LIOur focus did not extend to broadcasts or other media formats. C_LI
ABSTRACT
Associations between sensational news coverage of suicide and subsequent increases in suicidal behaviour in the general population have been well documented. Amidst growing concern over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates, it is especially important that news coverage of suicidal behaviour adheres to recommended standards for the responsible reporting of suicide. Using a set of dimensions based on international media guidelines, we analysed the quality and content of all UK news reports of possible COVID-19 related suicides and suicide attempts in the first four months of the pandemic (N=285 reports of 78 individual incidents published in print and online newspapers between 16th March and 12th July 2020). The majority of news reports made an explicit link between suicidal behaviour and the COVID-19 pandemic in the headline (187/285, 65.5%), and portrayed this association as strong and direct (n=196/272, 72.1%), mostly based on statements by family, friends or acquaintances of the deceased (171/285, 60%). The impact of the pandemic on suicidal behaviour was most often attributed to feelings of isolation (78/285, 27.4%), poor mental health (42, 14.7%) and sense of entrapment (41, 14.4%) as a result of government-imposed restrictions. Although rarely of poor overall quality, reporting was biased towards young people, frontline staff and relatively unusual suicides (including those involving a celebrity, murder-suicide and violent methods) Also, to varying degrees, reports failed to meet recommended standards; for example, 41.1% (117/285) did not signpost readers to sources of support, a quarter (69, 24.2%) included examples of sensational language and a third provided over-simplistic explanations for the suicidal behavior (93, 32.6%). While news reporting has improved compared to earlier coverage of suicide in the UK, it is essential that careful attention is paid to the quality and content of reports, especially as longer-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic develop.
ABSTRACT
BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, specialist palliative care services have an important role to play conducting high-quality and individualised Advance Care Planning discussions. Little is known about the challenges to Advance Care Planning in this context, or the changes services have made in adapting to them. AimTo describe the challenges experienced, and changes made to support, Advance Care Planning at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. DesignCross-sectional on-line survey of UK palliative and hospice services response to COVID-19. Closed-ended responses are reported descriptively. Open-ended responses were analysed using a thematic Framework approach. Respondents277 UK palliative and hospice care services. Results37.9% of services provided more Advance Care Planning directly. 58.5% provided more support to others. Some challenges to Advance Care Planning pre-dated the pandemic, whilst other were COVID-19 specific or exacerbated by COVID-19. Six themes demonstrated challenges at different levels of the Social Ecological Model, including: complex decision making in the face of a new disease; maintaining a personalised approach; COVID-specific communication difficulties; workload and pressure; sharing information; and national context of fear and uncertainty. Two themes demonstrate changes made to support Advance Care Planning, including: adapting local processes and adapting local structures. ConclusionsProfessionals and healthcare providers need to ensure Advance Care Planning is individualised by tailoring it to the values, priorities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious context of each person. Policymakers need to consider carefully how high-quality, person-centred Advance Care Planning can be resourced as a part of standard healthcare ahead of future pandemic waves. Key StatementsO_ST_ABSWhat is already known about the topic?C_ST_ABS- An important part of palliative cares response to COVID-19 is ensuring that Advance Care Planning discussions occur with patients and their care networks - High quality Advance Care Planning is viewed as a process that adopts a holistic, collaborative, and individualised approach - Prior to COVID-19, challenges to Advance Care Planning included time constraints, lack of training, fears of taking away hope, limited resources, and insufficient knowledge What this paper adds?- The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated already-existing challenges to conducting high-quality, individualised Advance Care Planning, including the ability to maintain a personalised approach and sharing information between services - COVID-specific challenges to Advance Care Planning exist, including the complexities of decision-making for a novel disease, communication issues, and workload pressures - In responding to these challenges, services adapted local processes (prioritising specific components, normalisation and integration into everyday practice) and structures (using technology, shifting resources, collaboration) of care Implications for practice, theory or policy- COVID-19 has provided an opportunity to re-think Advance Care Planning in which the starting point to any discussion is always the values and priorities of patients themselves - Providers and policymakers need to urgently consider how high-quality Advance Care Planning can be resourced and normalised as a part of standard care across the health sector, ahead of future or recurrent pandemic waves and in routine care more generally - We provide questions for health professionals, services, and policy makers to consider in working towards this