Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDOH) suicides, which receives funds from the CDC comprehensive suicide prevention program, has implemented a media monitoring and recommendation initiative to ensure that the news coverage related to suicides can be ensured that the news coverage related to suicide adhere to moral lists. Recognizing the important role of the media in shaping public perception, PRDOH continues to monitor local media, as well as social media platforms, to identify harmful reporting practices and provide creative response.

Through regular communication with journalists, editors and digital content creators, Prdoh provides evidence-based recommendations on suicide reporting and recognizes media outlets that follow the best practices to strengthen positive reporting behavior. In addition, PRDOH creates media ability through its free online course for journalists and content creators, called “”.Media role in prevention of suicide“Some consequences of these efforts include:

• Articles characterized by safe images, such as painting a helpline instead of including a picture of the deceased
• A change for safe material, such as a brief note of a death, is being examined as a suicide instead of the graphic details of the law.
• 988 lifeline inclusion
• Changing stigma with appropriate language (eg “died of suicide”)
• Improve media relations
• Comprehensive public performance for 988 lifeline

Although time -consuming, these efforts have helped to create confidence with local media outlets. PRDOH has created positive changes to reach directly to journalists, to provide suicide figures and local resources to share the media, and to share the media, to promote help seeking behavior and to increase awareness of suicide prevention in Puerto Rico.