EL SUICIDIO Y SU TRATAMIENTO INFORMATIVO. EL SILENCIO MEDIÁTICO ANTE LA PRIMERA CAUSA DE MUERTE VIOLENTA EN ESPAÑA

Resumo

Since 2008, suicide has become the leading cause of violent (unnatural) death in Spain, surpassing
traffic accidents, but it has been silenced by the media due to fear of the imitation effect. However,
one of the few exceptions to the taboo occurs when the deceased was the victim of bullying. Studies
in the field of psychology have led to two opposing currents. For the first, which considers that there
is a contagion effect, the term ‘Werther effect’ was coined. The second, which is committed to being
preventive, was called the ‘Papageno effect’. The debate continues, as shown by the controversy
over the series ‘For thirteen reasons’, which addresses bullying and adolescent suicide. The research
is based on a bibliographic review, a panel of experts and one quantitative analysis of the suicides
that occurred in Spain (2003-2017) and articles published on suicide deaths in the field of bullying.
The objective is to identify how and when this news is addressed and to check if journalists opt for
taboo or publication. The study reveals the need to implement a coherent communication policy, since
this work of the media can and should contribute to prevention.