Latest news with #GuidelinesforReportingandSharingofSuicide-RelatedContent
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Fahmi launches guidelines for reporting suicide-related content
PETALING JAYA: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today launched the Guidelines for Reporting and Sharing of Suicide-Related Content, the first such initiative in the world developed through an industry-led, inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach. Fahmi said the proactive efforts by the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) in developing these guidelines had brought together the Ministry of Health, media professionals and individuals with lived experiences, before further strengthening them through public consultations. 'In fact, Malaysia has been invited to present this initiative at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) World Congress 2025 in Vienna (Austria) this month, with CMCF representing our country,' he said in his speech at the guideline launching ceremony at Menara Star here today. Also present were CMCF chairman Rafiq Razali, Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (Telecommunications Infrastructure) Mano Verabathran, Ministry of Health deputy director-general (Public Health) Dr Ismuni Bohari, and Star Media Group (SMG) chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng. Fahmi said the Communications Ministry, together with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), will continue to support such efforts to ensure that the content ecosystem in Malaysia remains safe, inclusive and supportive of public wellbeing. 'I would also like to call upon all industry players, whether media practitioners, content creators, influencers or everyday users, to refer to and adopt these guidelines in their daily content creation and sharing,' he said. He said reporting about suicide is among the most sensitive and harrowing topics any journalist will face and it is essential to be responsible and discreet, ensuring that they do not divulge too many details and the location of the tragic event. 'This is primarily because of the consideration and compassion we must show to the family of the deceased. There is also the phenomenon of copycat suicides, where others learn about the tragedy and attempt to emulate it. For these two reasons alone, we must never treat suicide reporting and sharing lightly,' he said. Meanwhile, during a press conference, Fahmi hailed TikTok for voluntarily becoming a member of the Content Forum. 'Facebook, Instagram and X (are) far from satisfactory, so I will also communicate with them but they must understand that the Content Forum is not government-led, it is industry-led. 'It is actually in their interest that they participate so that they can help to develop certain (guidelines) whether best practices, (or) code of conduct. These I think is in their own interest, they should participate,' he said. Meanwhile, Fahmi hopes that the guidelines will be practised by all parties, not just journalists but those who report from the field and even within the entire media organisational structure. 'For us to do this, there needs to be a structural change, particularly in the culture of reporting, the whole organisation needs to understand and we must respect certain principles that are stressed in the guidelines. 'I ask that the Content Forum carry out several matters. Firstly, to involve as many media organisations from the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak as possible in workshop sessions so that all parties can understand the gist of the guidelines that have been launched. 'Secondly, we need to involve not just the mainstream media but also social media platforms because platforms like TikTok, Facebook and others, must understand that action needs to be taken on any issue that leads to what we might not call reporting, news reports but is displayed, showcased on their platforms,' he said. Asked if the existing act is sufficient to regulate social media platforms, he said it was not just a legal issue but the attitude of platform operators who prioritised profit. 'I just returned from a meeting of communication ministers in the Asia Pacific region, (and) we found that generally many countries in this region faced social media-related problems,' he said.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Fahmi launches guidelines for reporting and sharing of suicide-related content
PETALING JAYA: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today launched the Guidelines for Reporting and Sharing of Suicide-Related Content, the first such initiative in the world developed through an industry-led, inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach. Fahmi said the proactive efforts by the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) in developing these guidelines had brought together the Ministry of Health, media professionals and individuals with lived experiences, before further strengthening them through public consultations. 'In fact, Malaysia has been invited to present this initiative at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) World Congress 2025 in Vienna (Austria) this month, with CMCF representing our country,' he said in his speech at the guideline launching ceremony at Menara Star here today. Also present were CMCF chairman Rafiq Razali, Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (Telecommunications Infrastructure) Mano Verabathran, Ministry of Health deputy director-general (Public Health) Dr Ismuni Bohari, and Star Media Group (SMG) chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng. Fahmi said the Communications Ministry, together with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), will continue to support such efforts to ensure that the content ecosystem in Malaysia remains safe, inclusive and supportive of public wellbeing. 'I would also like to call upon all industry players, whether media practitioners, content creators, influencers or everyday users, to refer to and adopt these guidelines in their daily content creation and sharing,' he said. He said reporting about suicide is among the most sensitive and harrowing topics any journalist will face and it is essential to be responsible and discreet, ensuring that they do not divulge too many details and the location of the tragic event. 'This is primarily because of the consideration and compassion we must show to the family of the deceased. There is also the phenomenon of copycat suicides, where others learn about the tragedy and attempt to emulate it. For these two reasons alone, we must never treat suicide reporting and sharing lightly,' he said. Meanwhile, during a press conference, Fahmi hailed TikTok for voluntarily becoming a member of the Content Forum. 'Facebook, Instagram and X (are) far from satisfactory, so I will also communicate with them but they must understand that the Content Forum is not government-led, it is industry-led. 'It is actually in their interest that they participate so that they can help to develop certain (guidelines) whether best practices, (or) code of conduct. These I think is in their own interest, they should participate,' he said. Meanwhile, Fahmi hopes that the guidelines will be practised by all parties, not just journalists but those who report from the field and even within the entire media organisational structure. 'For us to do this, there needs to be a structural change, particularly in the culture of reporting, the whole organisation needs to understand and we must respect certain principles that are stressed in the guidelines. 'I ask that the Content Forum carry out several matters. Firstly, to involve as many media organisations from the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak as possible in workshop sessions so that all parties can understand the gist of the guidelines that have been launched. 'Secondly, we need to involve not just the mainstream media but also social media platforms because platforms like TikTok, Facebook and others, must understand that action needs to be taken on any issue that leads to what we might not call reporting, news reports but is displayed, showcased on their platforms,' he said. Asked if the existing act is sufficient to regulate social media platforms, he said it was not just a legal issue but the attitude of platform operators who prioritised profit. 'I just returned from a meeting of communication ministers in the Asia Pacific region, (and) we found that generally many countries in this region faced social media-related problems,' he said.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
New suicide content guidelines now apply to everyone — not just the media
PETALING JAYA: The newly launched Guidelines for Reporting and Sharing of Suicide-Related Content are not limited to traditional newsrooms but extend to all forms of media — including influencers, content creators, and everyday users. Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF) chief operating officer Mediha Mahmood expressed hope that awareness and advocacy surrounding the guidelines would reach far beyond the forum's immediate members. "The best form of advocacy is education. Many assume that compliance comes from punishment or enforcement, but I believe it's far more effective to get people genuinely invested in the guidelines — and that starts with understanding them," she told reporters at the sidelines of the launch event. "At CMCF, we see our role as one of collaboration. We want to help people understand why these guidelines exist, so they'll follow them out of conscience, not compulsion." Mediha said that CMCF aims to expand its outreach efforts to include podcasters, recognising the growing influence of such platforms. "Our immediate priority is to engage our members — mainly broadcasters and content creators — but we also hope to extend our workshops to podcasters and other emerging voices," she said. The guidelines were launched by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and were developed through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process involving the Communications Ministry, Health Ministry, the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH), health professionals, media practitioners, civil society, technology platforms, and individuals with lived experience of suicidal ideation or attempts. Mediha said that the initiative was inspired by the Health Ministry's 2011 Guidelines for Media Reporting on Suicide, but acknowledged that evolving media landscapes necessitated an updated framework. "So much has changed since 2011 — even the way we consume media. Working together with the Health Ministry and NCEMH, we've created a new set of guidelines that cover not just news reporting, but all forms of content sharing," she said. "Whether you're a content creator, influencer, filmmaker, or someone giving an interview, these guidelines offer useful direction. We will also be collaborating with the Health Ministry to support dissemination and provide training." Mediha also welcomed the eventual establishment of the Malaysian Media Council, saying it would complement and reinforce the guidelines. "Our hope is that these guidelines can be standardised across all media platforms. And the beauty of it is — they're adaptable. If there are improvements to be made, they can be updated as needed. We're looking forward to working with the Malaysian Media Council to support this." The framework outlines a clear roadmap for ethical reporting and content sharing, covering areas such as responsible language use, the avoidance of graphic imagery and sensational headlines, and the inclusion of mental health support resources. It also emphasises the importance of the "Papageno Effect" — the protective influence of media stories that highlight hope, recovery, coping strategies, and help-seeking behaviour as tools to reduce suicidal ideation. Importantly, the guidelines go beyond traditional media and address the broader digital ecosystem. They offer practical advice on sharing lived experiences safely, avoiding potentially triggering content, and directing audiences to relevant support services. Malaysia's leadership in this area has also gained international recognition. The guidelines have been selected for presentation at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) World Congress 2025, set to be held in Vienna.
