Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Item

Attitudes Towards Depression And Suicide: An Analysis Of News Coverage and Online Comments on Nigerian News Sites

Lawal, Oluwamayomikun
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated the issue of suicide in Nigeria, based on an analysis of online news articles about suicide as well as posts in response to those news articles. The study examined how the articles framed suicide, including stereotypes about suicide, and how often comments reflected common beliefs/attitudes towards suicide. Twenty-four articles and 168 comments were analyzed. Results revealed stereotypes in language and images in the articles, which often deviated from the World Health Organization responsible suicide-reporting guidelines. The articles cited economic hardship and mental illness most often as causes of suicide, but none of the articles provided solutions to the problem of suicide or information on where to seek help. Comments cited politics and economic hardship most often as causes of suicide, and rarely mentioned mental illness. Mental health professionals and journalists should work together to improve news coverage of suicide and promote the use of suicide prevention resources.

Comments
Description
Date
2018-08-07
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Suicide, Mental illness, Depression, Nigeria, Online news coverage, Stigmatization, Online comments
Citation
Lawal, Oluwamayomikun (2018). "Attitudes Towards Depression And Suicide: An Analysis Of News Coverage and Online Comments on Nigerian News Sites." Thesis, Georgia State University. https://doi.org/10.57709/12517878
Embargo Lift Date
2018-07-20
Embedded videos