VOA慢速英语--媒体不应该“炒作”自杀

Media Should Not 'Sensationalize' Suicide

In the United States, September is Suicide Prevention Month. The World Health Organization says that every year about 800,000 people commit suicide around the world.

September 10 was international suicide prevention day. To mark that day in 2017, the WHO stressed the important part that the media can play in stopping people from taking their own lives.

The WHO reports that for every suicide, 20 other people attempt to take their own lives. These people are mostly young. The WHO says suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged¹ 15 to 29 years.

The health organization also finds most suicides -- more than 78 percent -- happen in low-and middle-income countries. Issues that put people at risk include mental problems as well as depression and anxiety resulting from alcohol use.

WHO also states growing evidence shows that the media can play an important role in preventing suicide. The role media can play is to responsibly report on the problem.

Alexandra Fleischmann is a scientist in the WHO’s department of mental health and substance abuse. Fleischmann tells VOA that people are often unwilling² to talk about suicide because of the stigma³.

She says journalists can help to overcome this taboo⁴ by encouraging people to seek help and to speak openly about their distress⁵.

"It is also important to stress that the encouragement to work with the media and not just to talk about the don'ts. Don't put it in the headlines. Don't put the picture of the person who died. Don't sensationalize it. Don't glamorize it."

WHO also warns that when the media reports on suicide in an exciting or attractive way, it may put others at risk.

That’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

commit – v. to do (something that is illegal or harmful)?

stress – v. to give special attention to (something)?

stigma – n. a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something

taboo – n. not acceptable to talk about or do

encourage – v. to make (someone) more determined⁶, hopeful, or confident?

anxiety – n. fear or nervousness about what might happen?

distress – n. unhappiness or pain : suffering that affects the mind or body?

sensationalize – v. to describe or show something in a way that makes it seem more shocking than it really is

glamorize – v. to make (something) seem exciting and attractive

1 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

2 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

3 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

4 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？

5 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。