What kind of problem does a city have if 34 students ended their life by themselves in just 2 years time.
Over the last two years, 34 students in Hong Kong has committed suicide, which is a scarch figure to look at comparing to the average of 23 student suicides a year between 2010 and 2014 according to the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention.
Protest has been made by parents, the amount of homework have been cut down by teachers, yet two things remain unchanged, the Hong Kong government attitude on the public critics on the education system as well as the style and content of suicide reporting of Hong Kong media.
Just like other Asian country, Hong Kong students are known to be pressured and stressful According to the student survey done by Hok Yau Club (student community since 1949 in Hong Kong) on April 2017, over half student feel stressed because of the intense examination, huge amount of home work and the very limited enrolment capacity of universities of Hong Kong. The education system has once again grabbed the public’s attention with the continuous coverage of student suicide by the Hong Kong media.
Suicide is a public health issue , instead of using viral images and victimizing those who passed away on the title , journalists should balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort when reporting. Media and online coverage of suicide should be informed by using the best practices. Suicide deaths might be newsworthy, yet the way that media covers suicide can influence people’s behaviour negatively like copy cat effect, or positively by encouraging help-seeking. Aside from bring true and accurate content to readers, one of the core principle of being a journalist that was suggested by the Ethical Journalism Network is humanity, which they should bring not bring or to minimize harm on what they publish, as their words and pictures bring impacts to others (2017, para. 5). Besides, The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention also suggests that suicide is complex, which could be multiple causes, including psychiatric illnesses, that may not have been recognized or treated. However, these illnesses are treatable (2017. para . 2). These guidelines from the officials amplify that journalist plays an importing role in raising suicide awareness and suicide prevention.
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