A Sociological Content Analysis of Suicide News Coverage in Pakistani Print Media: A Ten-Year Study (2015-2025)
Abstract
Introduction: Suicide is a growing public health concern in Pakistan, yet epidemiological data remain limited and media representation plays a key role in shaping public perception. Methodology: A content analysis was conducted on 368 suicide-related news reports published between 2015 and 2025 across Pakistan, retrieved via LexisNexis. Reports were analysed for word count, gender, age, marital status, profession, sexual assault involvement, victim identification, method of suicide, and stated reasons for suicide. Patterns were interpreted within the socio-cultural context, with attention to adherence to media ethics and potential reporting biases. Results: Women and girls were disproportionately represented, accounting for 208 of 368 cases, followed by 157 cases among adult and adolescent males. Adolescents and young adults (11-32 years) represented most reported cases, whereas suicides among older adults were underreported, likely due to social stigma and family concealment. Most victims were unmarried (218 cases), with students and professionals the most frequently mentioned occupations. Hanging (58 cases) and poisoning (49 cases) were the predominant reported methods. Reported reasons were dominated by domestic and marital issues (130 cases). Media framing frequently emphasized moral judgment or deviance, particularly in marginalized populations, highlighting gender, age, and social biases in reporting. Conclusions: Pakistani newspaper coverage of suicide over the past decade reflects selective reporting, gendered and age-related biases, and inconsistent adherence to suicide-safe journalism guidelines. Findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive reporting standards, systematic surveillance, and targeted mental health interventions for vulnerable populations.
Keywords:
Suicide, Media, Pakistan, Gender, Content analysisDownloads
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The first author shall make the complete dataset on which the manuscript is based available upon reasonable request.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nusrat Azeema, Julio Torales, Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez, João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia, Antonio Ventriglio
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