I personally disagree with this opinion and I’m sure many others do too. In this example, education is fundamentally important. When underage individuals make discoveries about sex through a variety of media, and peer relationships, it is important to inform them of the facts so they can make the right choices and decisions.

I’m realise this is not directly relevant to suicide because sex is something that almost all people will have experience with in their lives, whereas suicide is mercifully more rare, furthermore, education in schools and media coverage are very different tools. However, I’m not sure that non-reporting of information about suicide will impact total number of suicides (though method of suicide, probably). It seem that if I believe mother’s opinion to be flawed, then this idea is flawed too.

If you want to have sex, you’ll do it; if you want to die, you’ll find a way. Perhaps we need to consider the other effects of reporting about suicide: what about those who have lost someone to suicide, who can’t understand what’s happened and feel isolated? A report about a similar case could make them feel less alone. The suicide of a relative or close friend may bring an individual to desire a similar end to their life, but an emotive article could remind them of the pain of loss they felt, and prevent them from inflicting the same pain on the rest of their family and friends.

We need to consider not whether to report or to ignore suicide, but how to report it in the most effective and constructive manner in order to save lives that are yet to be lost.

Thanks for writing it up, the links are useful!