Independent associations of characteristics of media articles in major Toronto publications (2011–2014) with decreased suicide deaths versus no change or increased suicide deaths after article publication*
| Characteristics of media items | OR (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Unfavourable characteristic† | 0.54 (0.35–0.83) |
| Railway | 0.62 (0.42–0.91) |
| Cutting or stabbing | 0.63 (0.47–0.84) |
| Individual murder-suicide | 0.67 (0.54–0.82) |
| Specific person’s death or suicidality | 0.77 (0.66–0.89) |
| Suicide public policy | 0.84 (0.72–0.97) |
| Youth | 0.85 (0.75–0.96) |
| No. of articles‡ (per additional 1) | 1.004 (1.002–1.005) |
| Legal issues related to suicide | 1.16 (1.03–1.31) |
| Firearm | 1.28 (1.09–1.51) |
| Older adults | 1.31 (1.05–1.63) |
| Identifies deceased as a celebrity | 1.32 (1.11–1.57) |
| Suicide pact | 1.71 (1.16–2.54) |
| Jumping (from building) | 1.78 (1.32–2.39) |
| Asphyxia other than by car exhaust | 1.93 (1.51–2.48) |
Note: CI = confidence interval, OR = odds ratio.
↵* Multivariable logistic regression
↵† Unfavourable characteristics refer to statements in an article expressing negative value judgments about a person’s character, personality or behaviour.
↵‡ Number of articles refers to a count of all articles relating to suicide published between day −14 and day 0.