Skip to the main content

Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 35 No. 4, 2023.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2023.572

NEWSPAPER- REPORTING ON SUICIDES DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN PAKISTAN: A CONTENT ANALYSIS

Rameez Ali Mahesar ; Department of Media & Communication Studies, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mirs, Pakistan
Muhammad Latif ; Department of Education, GC Women University Sialkot, Pakistan
Salbia Abbas ; Department of Psychology, GC Women University Sialkot, Pakistan
Mujeeb Rehman Abro ; Department of Media and Communication Studies, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh, Pakistan
Momina Ali ; Department of English, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan
Mahnoor Aslam Rao ; Department of English, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan
Antonio Ventriglio ; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

Full text: english pdf 450 Kb

page 572-577

downloads: 41

cite

Abstract

Background: suicide is a social relevant issue and a leading cause of deaths in the world; it has been reported that COVID-19
has significantly increased the rate of suicide worldwide. This study aimed to review media reporting on suicide cases occurred in
Pakistan during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Subjects and Methods: a content analysis has been performed considering the electronic version of the daily Kawish newspaper
reporting suicide cases from March to August 2020 in Pakistan.
Results: a total of 213 news regarding suicide in Pakistan during the lockdown period were identified. Suicide committers reported
age ranging 19-30 years old, and the majority of them were males (74%). Suicide methods ranged as following: harmful practices
(79%) > hanging (37%) > self-poisoning (28%). Factors associated to the risk of suicide were: familial discords (36%), poverty (21%)
and joblessness (14%).
Conclusion: findings of this study have shown that pandemic lockdown in Pakistan have increased the number of factors, such
as family issues, unemployment and poverty, leading to suicide especially in young males. The report of suicides may have an impact
on the public general opinion and a responsible news-reporting is needed by press agencies and media.

Keywords

media; suicide; newspaper; developing countries; COVID-19; lockdown; Pakistan

Hrčak ID:

311483

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/311483

Publication date:

9.11.2023.

Visits: 145 *