Urging residents to care more about their own mental health and those around them, the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), in conjunction with other government entities and several community associations, organised an exchange session titled “Caring for People Around Us –Being the Gatekeepers of Life” at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) on Friday, with the aim of pooling community wisdom in order to tackle the issues of enhancing mental health and preventing suicide.
The objective of the one-day session was also to promote the message that all members of civil society should be “gatekeepers of life” and make good use of the various support services provided by the government and the community.
According to a statement by the Social Welfare Bureau, the session’s participants offered valuable advice and suggestions on how to identify and pay attention to people at risk of suicide, how to initiate effective support measures and launch multi-disciplinary cooperation.
According to the statement, IAS President Han Wai “appealed to the public to observe the World Health Organisation’s “six dos and eight don’ts”* concerning the reporting by the media of suicides, not to keep or forward suicide-related images or videos, and to avoid over-exaggerating suicide incidents to the extent of causing a copycat effect, so as to jointly safeguard the mental health of the community.”
The statement did not list the “six dos and eight don’ts” mentioned by Han.
According to the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Suicide Mortality Surveillance, a total of 18 suicide deaths were recorded in the first quarter of this year, a decrease of four cases compared to the first quarter of last year, with the causes of suicide deaths mainly related to gambling or financial problems, mental illnesses, and chronic or physical diseases. In the first quarter of this year, the Social Welfare Bureau received a total of 84 suicide-related notifications for follow-up, a decrease of 15 notifications compared with the first quarter of last year.
The attendees included representatives from the Social Welfare Bureau, Health Bureau (SSM), Macau Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), the Judiciary Police (PJ), as well as organisations in the social services and education fields; more than 30 participants attended the session, according to the statement.
* The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides guidelines for responsible media reporting on suicide to prevent “copycat” behaviours and reduce stigma. Here are the “Six Dos and Eight Don’ts” when reporting on suicide:
Six Dos (Recommended Practices):
Do provide accurate information – Use reliable sources and report facts responsibly.
Do link to support services – Include helplines, mental health resources, and crisis intervention contacts.
Do educate the public – Highlight risk factors, warning signs, and ways to seek help.
Do report stories of recovery – Share positive narratives about overcoming mental health struggles.
Do use appropriate language – Say “died by suicide” instead of “committed suicide” (to avoid stigma).
Do highlight alternatives – Emphasise coping strategies and available treatments.
Eight Don’ts (Avoid These Practices)
Don’t sensationalise suicide – Avoid dramatic headlines or excessive details.
Don’t disclose explicit methods – Descriptions of means can lead to imitation.
Don’t glorify suicide – Avoid portraying it as heroic, romantic, or a solution.
Don’t use graphic images/videos – This can be distressing and triggering.
Don’t oversimplify causes – Suicide is complex; avoid attributing it to a single reason.
Don’t place blame – Avoid stigmatising language or assigning guilt.
Don’t prominently report celebrity suicides – High-profile cases can increase contagion risk.
Don’t repeat the story excessively – Constant coverage may normalise suicide. – DeepSeek
Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Han Wai (centre) addresses Friday’s suicide-prevention exchange session titled “Caring for People Around Us – Being the Gatekeepers of Life” at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) on Friday. – IAS
