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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Fears over pro-suicide web pages | Fears over pro-suicide web pages |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| People searching the web for information on suicide are more likely to find sites encouraging the act than offering support, a study says. | People searching the web for information on suicide are more likely to find sites encouraging the act than offering support, a study says. |
| Researchers used four search engines to look for suicide-related sites, the British Medical Journal said. | Researchers used four search engines to look for suicide-related sites, the British Medical Journal said. |
| The three most frequently occurring sites were all pro-suicide, prompting researchers to call for anti-suicide web pages to be prioritised. | The three most frequently occurring sites were all pro-suicide, prompting researchers to call for anti-suicide web pages to be prioritised. |
| Mental health campaigners said such sites preyed on vulnerable people. | Mental health campaigners said such sites preyed on vulnerable people. |
| Unlike in some countries, pro-suicides sites are not banned in the UK. | Unlike in some countries, pro-suicides sites are not banned in the UK. |
| These sites are preying on vulnerable and lonely people Marjorie Wallace, of Sane | These sites are preying on vulnerable and lonely people Marjorie Wallace, of Sane |
| The 1961 Suicide Act says it is illegal to aid, abet, counsel, procure or incite someone to kill themselves. | The 1961 Suicide Act says it is illegal to aid, abet, counsel, procure or incite someone to kill themselves. |
| But to be successfully prosecuted the individual has to have knowledge and participated in the suicide. | But to be successfully prosecuted the individual has to have knowledge and participated in the suicide. |
| The researchers, from Bristol, Oxford and Manchester universities, typed in 12 simple suicide-related search terms into the internet engines. | The researchers, from Bristol, Oxford and Manchester universities, typed in 12 simple suicide-related search terms into the internet engines. |
| They analysed the first 10 sites in each search, giving a total of 480 hits. | They analysed the first 10 sites in each search, giving a total of 480 hits. |
| Altogether 240 different sites were identified. | Altogether 240 different sites were identified. |
| In total, 90 hits (19%) were for dedicated suicide sites, half of which were judged to be encouraging, promoting, or facilitating suicide. | In total, 90 hits (19%) were for dedicated suicide sites, half of which were judged to be encouraging, promoting, or facilitating suicide. |
| Some 43 hits contained personal or other accounts of suicide methods, providing information and discussing pros and cons but without direct encouragement; and two sites portrayed suicide or self harm in fashionable terms. | Some 43 hits contained personal or other accounts of suicide methods, providing information and discussing pros and cons but without direct encouragement; and two sites portrayed suicide or self harm in fashionable terms. |
| A further 44 (9%) hits were sites or pages that provided information about suicide methods in a purely factual (24), partly joking (12), or completely joking (eight) fashion. | A further 44 (9%) hits were sites or pages that provided information about suicide methods in a purely factual (24), partly joking (12), or completely joking (eight) fashion. |
| Twelve hits were chat rooms or discussion boards that talked about methods of suicide. | Twelve hits were chat rooms or discussion boards that talked about methods of suicide. |
| In contrast, sites focusing on suicide prevention accounted for 62 hits (13%), and those forbidding or discouraging suicide accounted 59 hits (12%). | In contrast, sites focusing on suicide prevention accounted for 62 hits (13%), and those forbidding or discouraging suicide accounted 59 hits (12%). |
| Technical information | |
| Lead research Lucy Biddle said that because of the law, self-regulation by internet providers and the use of filtering software by parents were the main methods used to try to prevent the use of pro-suicide sites. | |
| But she added: "This research shows it is very easy to obtain detailed technical information about methods of suicide." | But she added: "This research shows it is very easy to obtain detailed technical information about methods of suicide." |
| She said internet service providers could pursue strategies that would maximise the likelihood that sites aimed at preventing suicide are sourced first. | She said internet service providers could pursue strategies that would maximise the likelihood that sites aimed at preventing suicide are sourced first. |
| Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, agreed something should be done. | Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, agreed something should be done. |
| "We remain deeply concerned about the possible influence of the internet on suicide rates, not least the ease with which information about particular methods can be found with a simple web search. | "We remain deeply concerned about the possible influence of the internet on suicide rates, not least the ease with which information about particular methods can be found with a simple web search. |
| "These sites are preying on vulnerable and lonely people." | "These sites are preying on vulnerable and lonely people." |
| But the UK Internet Service Providers Association said it did not have editorial control over site prioritisation and would only take sites down if they were illegal. | But the UK Internet Service Providers Association said it did not have editorial control over site prioritisation and would only take sites down if they were illegal. |