: Whatâ€™s Wrong in Covering Celebrity Suicides with Such Fanfare? Everything More #IndiaNEWS #Famous Personalities The news of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs tragic death by suicide led to a massive

Whatâ€™s Wrong in Covering Celebrity Suicides with Such Fanfare? Everything More #IndiaNEWS #Famous Personalities
The news of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs tragic death by suicide led to a massive outpouring of grief and sadness from Indians of all hues.
Sushant wasnt your average film celebrity. Young and dynamic, with no godfathers in the industry, he represented far more than his 11 released films indicated.
From his passion for the sciences to his charitable donations, to even small things like his habit of posting humble replies to regular comments on social media platforms like Instagramâ€”he established a deeply personal connection with his fans.
However, amid all the deeply-felt tributes, many were appalled by the way our mainstream media, particularly TV channels, covered the newsâ€”pointing out that it was outright predatory and deeply inconsiderate.
And they were right. Most channels did not use the proper terminologyâ€”framing Sushants death as committed suicide rather than the appropriate died by suicide.
Many ran baseless tickers suggesting that Sushant somehow failed as a person. Others showcased unverified details speculating about the cause. And some even harassed his loved ones in their time of grief.
One must ask whether is it good for the media to cover celebrity suicides with so much fanfare ignoring the fact that a celeb is also a person, and an influencer?
Sushant Singh Rajput (Image courtesy Facebook/Sushant Singh Rajput)
How Should The Media Cover Celebrity Deaths?
Although there isnt any data specifically for India, there are enough studies to indicate around the world to suggest a spike in suicide rates following a celebrity suicide. When comedian Robin Williams died in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, there was an almost 10% increase in suicide, particularly among middle-aged men.
Speaking to The Better India, Tejas Shah, a Mumbai-based clinical psychologist, who practices at Healing Studio and conducts regular suicide prevention workshops across the city, believes that celebrity suicides shouldnt be covered with such fanfare. He argues that the media must show more considerable restraint and be more responsible and ethical.
The way the media has covered the recent suicide of film star Sushant Singh Rajput has been poor. They have intruded on the privacy of family members and shoved their mics on their faces when grieving. His death is portrayed as a psychological drama unfolding from one moment to another. What happens as a result is that it causes distress in society as well. You must have heard about the copycat suicide phenomenon, and there are statistics to suggest whenever a celebrity dies by suicide, the suicide rates go up, notes Tejas.
For people suffering from mental health illnesses and contemplating suicide, such a death is a deeply triggering event.

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