If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000, visit your nearest hospital emergency or contact any of the crisis support services.
Evidence and research
Through ongoing monitoring, evaluation and research, we strengthen the evidence base that guides our work.
This ensures our resources, training and real-time support reflect the latest knowledge about safe and responsible public communication about mental health, suicide, and alcohol and other drugs.
Our approach draws on critical reviews of the literature, media monitoring insights and peer-reviewed research. We translate this information into clear, practical guidance for media professionals and others who communicate with the public.
By creating and sharing evidence in this way, we support safer communication, reduce harm, and encourage help-seeking and improved wellbeing across the community.
Critical reviews and evidence checks
In collaboration with research and sector partners we develop critical reviews and evidence checks.
These are a structured way of assessing available evidence, identifying strengths and gaps, and drawing balanced conclusions.
A Critical Review, Suicide and the News and Information Media (2018)
In A Critical Review, Suicide and the News and Information Media, 168 studies were identified relating to a range of media (newspapers, television, books, the Internet, and mixed media), to assess the causal link between news and information media reporting and actual suicidal behaviours and thoughts. This review is an update to the original review undertaken in 2010.
Outcome: The reviewers acknowledge news and information media’s role in raising awareness of suicide as a public health issue and conclude that referencing suicide can influence copycat suicide acts in particular circumstances. It is recommended that presentations of suicide by news and information media are done responsibly and balanced to reduce any potential harm.
Evidence Check, Media reporting of Alcohol and Other Drug Use (2018)
Everymind commissioned The University of Newcastle to conduct this evidence check to review and summarise the media reporting of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use worldwide. The evidence check examined the impact of media portrayal on stigma and behaviours making recommendations on how to shape media reporting of AOD use to maximise public health benefits.
Outcome: The review identified 30 studies describing the ways in which AOD use has been portrayed in the media, 28 studies of the impact of media portrayals of AOD use on the general community, and four guidelines for media professionals that outlined key strategies for the responsible reporting of AOD.
Media Monitoring
Everymind has commissioned independent media monitoring studies in Australia to provide information about the way Australian news media report suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug concerns.
These monitoring studies enable us to understand how issues are portrayed, identify areas of strength, areas for improvement, and inform strategies that reduce harm and promote help-seeking in Australian public communication.
How Australian media report and portray suicide and mental ill-health (2001 and 2007)
The first media monitoring study, between 2000 – 2001, was prior to the introduction of Mindframe. This 12-month study established a baseline on the quality and quantity of media reporting of suicide in Australia, looking at future opportunities.
Between 2006 and 2007, a second study was conducted as a follow-up to the original 2001 study. It systematically examined whether there had been changes in how suicide was reported in the media over a 12-month period , including the extent, nature and quality of reporting, following the introduction of media guidelines and codes of practice.
A five-page snapshot of media monitoring projects is also available here
AOD Media Monitoring Final Report (2021)
In 2019 Everymind commissioned The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use to review Australian mass media reporting on issues relating to alcohol and other drugs (AOD). This media monitoring study assessed the type and quality of AOD reporting using the recommendations from the Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs guidelines. This is the first study to have used the Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs guidelines to assess media reporting and will be used as a baseline for future media evaluations.
Media reporting on alcohol and other drugs in Australia and the Mindframe guidelines: Baseline data
Sunderland M, Kershaw S, Ward C, Bryant Z, Teesson L, Whittle R, Paton E, Charnley JL, Skehan J. Media reporting on alcohol and other drugs in Australia and the Mindframe guidelines: Baseline data. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2023.
Publications
Below you will find a selection of peer-reviewed and scholarly publications authored by staff at Everymind related to our work in the Mindframe program.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the publications below, please contact us.
2026
Skehan J, Maple M, Paton E, Peprah J, Pirkis J, Kelly B. Health Promotion International, Volume 41, Issue 1, February 2026, daag019, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daag019
Pryse Jones E, Paton E, Barrow M, Eddy J, Peprah J, Cuenca J, Skehan J. Our stories matter: a mixed methods survey of lived and living experience perspectives of media and public communication of suicide in Australia. BMJ Public Health. 2026;4:e004225. doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2025-004225
2025
Lyons J, McNaught G, Paton E, Morgan AJ, Benson M, Ross AM. Portrayal of mental illness and suicide in Facebook posts by Australian news organisations. Journal of Mental Health, 1–10. doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2025.2528187
Dudgeon P, Collova J, Georgatos G, Chang EP, Paton E, Benson M, Krakouer M. Truth-telling about suicide: Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to engage with the media. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/00048674251328542
Skehan J, Tynan R, Thienel R, Pirkis J, Maple M, Kelly B. What factors influence Australian media professionals’ level of agreement with guidelines for reporting suicide? Media International Australia. 2025;0(0):1-12. doi:10.1177/1329878X241309369.
2024
Paton E, Pryse Jones E, Peprah J, Benson M. Our words matter: finding consensus on evolving and personal language around suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug use. Media International Australia. 2024;193(1):80-95. doi:10.1177/1329878X241278005.
Sampson DL, Cootes H, Paton E, Peprah, J, Simmonette, D, Heinsch, M, Kay-Lambkin, F, Skehan, J. Words and images matter: perspectives on suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug use depiction. Healthcare. 2024;12:2120. doi:10.3390/healthcare12212120.
Ross AM, Dickson K, Morgan AJ, Paton E, McNaught G, Reavley NJ. Experiences reporting on mental illness and suicide: Findings from interviews with Australian news professionals. Journalism. 2024;0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849241274105
Graham M, Morgan A, Paton E, Ross A. Examining the quality of news media reporting of complex mental illness in relation to violent crime in Australia. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 29;00207640231194481.
2022
Flego A, Reifels L, Mihalopoulos C, Bandara P, Page A, Fox T, et al. Cost-effectiveness of media reporting guidelines for the prevention of suicide. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2022 Oct;52(5):1048–57.
2021
Wake A, Paton E, Pryor R. Communicating about suicide during a global pandemic: impact on journalists and media audiences. Media International Australia. 2021 Feb;178(1):47–53.
Lim JTY, Cheng Q, Ng YP, Pheh KS, Panirselvam RR, Tay KW, et al. Effectiveness of a Malaysian media intervention workshop: safe reporting on suicide. Front Psychol. 2021;12:666027.
2020
Pirkis J, Currier D, Too LS, Bryant M, Bartlett S, Sinyor M, et al. Calls to helplines in Australia following media reports of Robin Williams’ suicide. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2020 Dec;50(6):1115–20.
Pirkis J, Currier D, Too LS, Bryant M, Bartlett S, Sinyor M, et al. Suicides in Australia following media reports of the death of Robin Williams. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2020 Jan;54(1):99–104.
Skehan J, Paton E, Tynan R. The uptake of evidence-informed guidelines for reporting suicide into media codes of practice and policies in Australia. Health Promot J Austr. 2020 Sep;31(3):482–90.
2019
Thienel R, Bryant M, Hazel G, Skehan J, Tynan R. Do Australian media apply recommendations when covering a suicide prevention campaign? Journal of Public Mental Health. 2019 Jan 1;18(2):135–47.
2018
Ftanou M, Skehan J, Krysinska K, Bryant M, Spittal MJ, Pirkis J. Crafting safe and effective suicide prevention media messages: Outcomes from a workshop in Australia. Int J Ment Health Syst. 2018;12:23.
2016
Pirkis J, Skehan J. Suicide and the media: The role of psychologists. InPsych. 2016;38(1):16–7.
Ling R, Kelly B, Considine R, Tynan R, Searles A, Doran CM. The economic impact of psychological distress in the Australian coal mining industry. J Occup Environ Med. 2016 May;58(5):e171-176.
Tynan RJ, Considine R, Rich JL, Skehan J, Wiggers J, Lewin TJ, et al. Help-seeking for mental health problems by employees in the Australian Mining Industry. BMC Health Serv Res. 2016 Sep 21;16(1):498.
2013
Skehan J, Maple M, Fisher J, Sharrock G. Suicide bereavement and the media: A qualitative study. Advances in Mental Health. 2013 Jun 1;11(3):223–37.
2012
Machlin A, Skehan J, Sweet M, Wake A, Fletcher J, Spittal M, et al. Reporting suicide: Interpreting media guidelines. Australian Journalism Review. 2012 Jul;34(2):45–56.
Fitch K. Communicating mental illness and suicide: Public relations students’ perceptions of ethical practice. Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication Ethics. 2012;9(1):14–21.
Pirkis J, Francis C. Mental illness in the news and information media: A critical review. Hunter Institute of Mental Health; 2012.
2010
Pirkis J, Blood RW, Skehan J, Dare A. Suicide in the news: Informing strategies to improve the reporting of suicide. Health Communication. 2010 Aug 31;25(6–7):576–7.
Pirkis J, Blood W. Suicide and the news and information media: A critical review. Hunter Institute of Mental Health; 2010.
2009
Skehan J, Burns LS, Hazell T. The response ability project: Integrating the reporting of suicide and mental illness into journalism curricula. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator. 2009 Jun 1;64(2):191–204.
2008
Romeo M, Green K, Skehan J, Visser A, Coan L, Hazell T. Researching and reporting on suicide or mental illness: A student perspective. Australian Journalism Review. 2008;30(1):123–30.
2007
Skehan J, Burns LS, Hazell T. Keeping pace with current issues in reporting suicide and mental illness. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice. 2007;4(2):107–18.
2006
Skehan J, Garvey G, Scott P. Reporting suicide and mental illness for Indigenous Australians. Australian Journalism Review. 2006;27(2):25–42.
Skehan J, Greenhalgh S, Hazell T, Pirkis J. Reach, awareness and uptake of media guidelines for reporting suicide and mental illness: An Australian perspective. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion. 2006;8(4):29–35.
Pirkis J, Blood RW, Beautrais A, Burgess P, Skehan J. Media guidelines on the reporting of suicide. Crisis. 2006;27(2):82–7.
Skehan J, Greenhalgh S, Hazell T. Effectiveness of face-to-face briefings to promote uptake of resources around reporting suicide and mental illness. Australian Journalism Review. 2006;28(2):187–200.
2001
Hazell T, Reardon L, Vincent K, Burns LS. Are journalism educators ‘response able’? Australian Journalism Review. 2001;23(2):105–17.