Media portrayals of suicide’s risk and protective factors in Slovenia (1959–1999)

english

2024

volume 64, issue 2

attitudes   media   protective factors   risk factors   suicide

Inštitut za novejšo zgodovino
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

This study examines the historical shifts in Slovenian public attitudes towards suicide by analysing the media coverage in two major Slovenian newspapers published between 1959 and 1999. We conducted a database search and analysed 1,785 relevant articles from an initial pool of 13,042 hits. Our findings revealed that, for decades, the media reported more frequently on suicide risk factors than on protective factors. The most frequently mentioned risk factors included individual characteristics such as gender and mental health issues, with community factors becoming more prominent over time. Regarding protective factors, the focus was comparable to the emphasis on individual risk factors. Interpersonal factors were primarily reported in the 1960s, while community factors became more widely recognised by the 1990s. This underscores a broader shift towards a holistic understanding of the risk and protective factors with community-based approaches to suicide prevention, reflecting the evolving public health paradigms.

16.05.2025